DOCUMENTARY EARNS RFK AWARD Page 4 NOTEB OOK Rob Logan Independent Web Sites 2; Mass Media 1 Traditional Media Are Missing out on the Full Potential of the Internet

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COJMC ALUMNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2008

DOCUMENTARY EARNS RFK AWARD Page 4 NOTEB OOK Rob Logan Independent Web sites 2; mass media 1 Traditional media are missing out on the full potential of the Internet

“It’s not the container — it’s the content,” Jim Kennedy told a national jour- I work at a federal government agency (the U.S. National Library of nalism conference in remarks reported in the winter J News. Medicine-NLM) that made health and medical information searchable Kennedy, AP’s vice president for news, is partially right. Clear writing, and understandable for anyone with Internet access. MedlinePlus.gov, impartial reporting, accuracy, fair play, providing context, enterprise and NLM’s primary consumer health informatics resource, began in the late succinct editing are as vital to journalism’s future as they have been to its 1990s. Today, there are similar consumer health information resources on past. the Internet, including commercial services like WebMd.com. However, Kennedy’s remarks suggest a misunderstanding of the MedlinePlus.gov was started partly because the Internet made Internet’s distinctiveness and its public impact. The news media’s impor- direct-to-public communication and knowledge integration logistically tance as the public’s primary information resource is in jeopardy because and financially feasible for the first time. news organizations have not understood how the Internet as a mass In a national survey, the National Cancer Institute reported last year medium is changing public expectations. Newsrooms also seem reluctant the public’s primary source of information about health and medicine is to optimize the Internet’s possibilities. now Internet-based providers of health and As Harold Adams Innis and Marshall information — not news organizations. McLuhan explained a generation ago, a new Although the news media remain the primary “container” (a new medium of mass communi- resource to report health and medical develop- cation — currently the Internet) becomes a cul- ments, the press apparently is no longer the pri- turally potent message regardless of the con- mary resource consumers use to be conversant tent it carries. Any new mass communication about health and medicine. The latter was the medium impacts culture, alters public expecta- an premise of Jim Hartz and Rick Chappell’s book tions and changes how people evaluate the about improving science and medical journal- importance of new versus conventional ways ism published only a decade ago. to convey information. The American Customer Satisfaction Simply put, the Internet’s form and func- Index, an independent, panel-based survey of tion provide a different experience than do tel- consumer attitudes about Web sites, also sug-

evision, radio, newspapers, magazines or o courtesy Robertges Log ts comprehensive resources of health and books. While news executives initially thought medical information like Medline-Plus.gov are the Internet’s distinctive characteristic was to Phot rated significantly higher in a broad measure provide synergy among print, video and audio, LOGAN of consumer satisfaction than the Internet sites a good Web site’s most important attribute provided by news organizations. may be its knowledge base. Robert Logan, Ph.D., is on the senior staff of the So, in less than a decade — by default — For a user, the Internet is the first mass U.S. National Library of Medicine and is a pro- news organizations lost part of their authority communication medium in history that professor emeritus at the University of Missouri- as a primary resource in one knowledge vides a potentially seamless integration from Columbia School of Journalism. He was previ- domain: health and medicine. the core topic in a news story to broader knowl- ously a science writer and news editor at several There are countertrends: nytimes.com edge about the subject. The Internet enables newspapers in the Midwest and was head of the now provides background health and medical any topic to be linked inexpensively to extant news-editorial sequence and an affiliate profes- information and appropriate links within the knowledge — and the availability of the whole sor of medicine at the University of South Florida. paper’s daily news coverage — and I’m a grate- (the complete package) becomes more impor- ful user of these services. News organizations tant that the sum of its parts. have abundant opportunities to integrate knowledge with daily reporting, The Internet is transformative because, for the first time in history, and journalists are ideally suited to do both tasks. information availability and accessibility does not directly hinge on geog- Nevertheless, I remain surprised how few news organizations take raphy, proximity to experts and libraries, prior education and extensive advantage of the Internet’s attributes to help readers, listeners and view- knowledge about locating stored sources. While a digital divide persists, ers better understand their surroundings and even some of the signature it is far easier for persons to find Web access than move next to a world- developments of our time. For example, one reason NLM’s Genetics Home class library or university, return to school or befriend an expert. Hence, Reference (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov) was developed was to fill a void; few as Mohan Dutta (Purdue) explains, the public’s expectation of a good institutions explained the implications of the DNA revolution. information Internet Web site is its “completeness.” Again by default, most of the press is missing an opportunity to voice Time and space constraints previously made it commercially and one of the few developments in the late 20th and early 21st century that physically impractical for a newsroom to function as a public information probably will be celebrated in the 30th. While most major news organiza- resource. “We do news, not encyclopedias,” a veteran news editor told me tions prominently report health and medical news on their Web sites, few recently. But a combined resource is now possible because the Internet link readers to the array of background information about each topic a has no space constraints, and time demands are fluid. story raises. Most do not even bother to link from the news story to the Further, by not recognizing the Internet’s potential and providing original source of information — even when it originates from an open mostly current and archived news coverage on their Web sites, the news source. media let other institutions develop a more comprehensive container for My point here is not to gloat; it saddens me to hear about the decline the public. In the process, the news media seem to be losing a prized of revenues, credibility, clout and size of news organizations. Still, it would asset: the perception that they are the primary resource to increase pub- serve the news media well to optimize their use of the Internet and under- lic awareness of the surrounding world. stand that in the long run the medium may be as vital as its messages. ■ 12 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–LINCOLN SUMMER 2008 AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS

THE ISSUE COVER: 40 From the dean: Student documen- Justin Peterson and Rachel tary wins RFK journalism award Anderson represented the 80 Spreading the word: Common Nebraska team that was awarded the Robert F. Cause seeks converts in Midwest Kennedy Memorial Journalism 10 Commencement message: Retired Award in Washington, D.C. OW-H CEO speaks to students Other student members were 11 Journalism contest: Freshmen place Megan Carrick and Chris first, second in NPA contest Welch. 12 Nebraska Super Advantage: LB 895 focuses on higher-paying jobs AT RIGHT: 14 Meet Michelle Hassler: The German depth-report New assis- documentary, “Breaking Down tant to the dean thrives in her role Barriers,” won in the college 15 IT guru: Luther Hinrichs wins UNL broadcast category. The award Kudos award was presented by Ethel 18 NEH grant: Nebraska newspapers Kennedy on May 27. will be digitized PHOTOS BY BARNEY MCCOY 21 UNL Women’s Week: J school student’s mom is featured speaker 24 Media change: Conference focuses on media survival strategies The Rewrite Man: Charles Overby 26 ALUMNIf y i had a plan to increase circulation, build a new Send us your news to: [email protected] Newseum in the nation’s capitol. Page 5 NOTEBOOK Senior reception 20 Web vs. mass media: The mass Journalism alumni advisory media are missing out on the full board’s signature event. Page 22 potential of the Internet

JNews &NOTES 52 Faculty Notes 54 Alumni Notes 58 Student Honors 61 Student profile FROM LEFT: Dick & Margaret Holman and NU 62 Depth report examines ethanol Foundation liaison Steve Hill 64 Ad class studies interactive media Holman Plaza is dedicated April 11 65 Real-world journalism experience New setting provides place for faculty, stu- 66 Peer-to-peer marketing campaign dents to interact with each other. Page 16 68 A look back at UNL’s milestones

JALUMNI NEWS IS A BIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS AT UNL IN COOPERATION WITH THE COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION – DEAN Will Norton Jr. EDITOR Charlyne Berens ART DIRECTOR Marilyn Hahn PHOTOGRAPHERS Bruce Thorson – Luis Peon-Casanova – Teresa Prince – JOURNALISM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS – PRESIDENT Ashley Washburn – NATIONAL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Thom Kastrup – BOARD MEMBERS Jeff Carney, Terri Diffenderfer, Rhonda Gerrard, Barry Kriha, Monte Olson, Tracy Overstreet, Cheryl Stubbendieck, Dara Troutman – PAST PRESIDENT Ann Pedersen-Gleeson – STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Dani Blecha – COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE Richard Alloway – FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE Steve Hill • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO: J Alumni News • CoJMC, P.O. Box 880443, Lincoln, NE 68588-0443 • PHONE 402.472.3041 • FAX 402.472.8597 • E-MAIL [email protected] • COLLEGE WEB SITE • http://www.unl.edu/journalism/ NEWSNETNEBRASKA WEB SITE • http://www.newsnetnebraska.org Daily Nebraskan Web site • http://www.unl.edu/DailyNeb/ • The University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 DEAN ’S COLUMN Will Norton Jr.

Student documentary for coverage of such human rights topics as social injustice, civil war, corruption and discrimination. is honored with RFK The ceremony was in a new venue this year, the recently opened Newseum at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. Journalism Award The Newseum has quickly become the hottest spot in the district. John Seigenthaler, master of cere- By WILL NORTON JR. monies at the RFK Awards ceremony, said DEAN the event would continue to be held at the Newseum in the future. He praised the work of Charles Overby, the chairman and n the Tuesday evening United States. CEO of The Freedom Forum, for his mas- after Memorial Day, Ethel The judges wrote: “‘Breaking Down terful leadership of a talented team that Kennedy handed a bust of Barriers’ deserves this year’s RFK College conceived and developed the $450 million O Robert F. Kennedy to Broadcast Award because of its originality museum. Justin Peterson and Rachel and compelling portrayal of a serious On the front of the Newseum, facing Anderson. problem in today’s school systems.” Pennsylvania Avenue, is the First They represented the Nebraska team The Robert F. Kennedy Awards were Amendment, etched on Tennessee marble. that was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy founded in 1968 by a group of journalists It is a fitting reminder for each visitor that Memorial Journalism Award in College who covered the Senator’s presidential American government is built on the con- Broadcast for their German depth-report campaign. The awards are dedicated to the cept of freedom of expression.

Justin Peterson, John Seigenthaler Sr., Ethel Kennedy, Barney McCoy (behind Mrs. Kennedy), Dean Will Norton Jr. and Laine Norton attended the Robert F. Kennedy Awards in Washington, D.C., on May 27. documentary, “Breaking Down Barriers.” Kennedys’ daughter, Rory. Ethel Kennedy What an appropriate reminder to Other student members of the team were was pregnant with Rory when Bobby Justin and Rachel as they accepted the Megan Carrick and Chris Welch. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. Today, RFK award in the 40th anniversary year of The documentary compared the Rory is an award-winning documentary his death. experiences of Turkish immigrants in filmmaker and producer. What a reminder to all alumni of this Germany and Hispanic immigrants in the The RFK Journalism Awards are made college. ■

14 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 COLLEGE

able housing) on the table. “I am a strong The Rewrite Man believer in the round-figure number. I thought the number would take everyone’s breath away,” he says. Zambo remembers being flabbergasted by Overby’s plan. “Our Charles Overby had a plan to increase jaws dropped,” she says. The $100 million not only chased away circulation, build a new Newseum any competition, it allowed the Newseum to set a deadline for the city’s response. Overby also studied how major proj- By JACQUELINE TRESCOTT ects often attract critics, especially when WASHINGTON POST STAFF WRITER the city is trying to build a livable downtown. He enlisted advocates. One of the first was Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations. harles L. Overby, the chief executive officer of the Newseum, had one ques- “He’s very adept and he does it in a way tion for his senior management team.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx that has inclusivity and consensus, rather “How do we increase our impact?” he asked the dozen officials of the than leadership that rams something C Freedom Forum, gathered for a retreat in Williamsburg about nine years through,” Lynch explains. ago. Weeks before the deal was final, This query was unusual because the museum had just opened just two years earlier, Overby and Prichard went to a reception at on a busy street in Rosslyn. But Overby outlined the hard facts: It had outgrown its site the Canadian Embassy, their new next- and it was too far off the tourist track to get drop-in visitors. Those who found its door, door neighbor. They went up on the bal- on the ground floor of an office building, loved its immediacy — the front pages from cony for the first time to see the view they around the country and the chance to do a stand-up just like the real Washington corre- would someday share. spondents. “The sun goes down, the light goes on Overby thought something else, something bigger, could be done. At that point, what in the Capitol, and a full harvest moon rose he was asking seemed astonishing. But Peter S. Prichard, the Newseum’s president, says behind the Capitol dome,” Prichard recalls. they had all worked under the tutelage of Al Neuharth, the founder of USA Today and the “Charles says, ‘We didn’t pay enough.’” Freedom Forum, and nothing in their boss’s vision was defined as impossible. Plus the Now Overby, a thin Mississippian with foundation had more than $1 billion in assets to use for any future facility. Southern manners, talks a lot about how collaborative the creation has been. About Overby pressed: “Can we make a quan- Then Lois Zambo, a real estate broker, 300 people — a gaggle of writers, an army tum leap forward instead of incremental drew up a map with about a dozen build- of builders, entertainment producers and steps?” The answer came back, “Well, if we ings, some on the market, some with just technicians — have pulled together the could ever get a site on the Mall.” some buzz. new museum. They closed the first in Overby, who arrived for work at 5 a.m. “Charles saw the Pennsylvania Avenue March 2002 and took time to get this one yesterday, has now seen his dream come site and said, ‘That is where I want to be.’ I exactly as they wanted. They had a big true. The reincarnated Newseum opened, said, ‘Do you know how difficult that is checkbook. This is a museum with a $450 and Overby was so busy it took a while going to be?’” Zambo says. The parcel was million price tag. before he noticed the line of visitors only 643,000 square feet, with a local gov- Overby, 61, has been a constant pres- snaking down Pennsylvania Avenue. ernment office hugging the corner. It was ence with both Newseum 1 and Newseum By the end of the day, 10,854 people not on the market but the city was willing 2. The first one was ordered up by had come through the door, and Overby to consider a deal. Neuharth. Jerry W. Friedheim, the former pronounced himself “ecstatic.” Overby was smitten, by the location, president of the American Newspaper The best day in Rosslyn? About 5,000. by the symbolism, by the challenge. Publishers Association and executive direc- “Just the idea of being able to locate tor of the first Newseum, came up with the *** this museum right on Pennsylvania Avenue name. … it was location, location, location,” When the city gave its final approval nce the decision to move was Overby says. for the deal, Overby was in Ghana, where O made in early 2000, Overby went The list of obstacles was long. He had the Freedom Forum was hosting a debate about every step in a methodical the team prepare an unsolicited offer, a for the country’s presidential candidates. way, listening to every interested party, package he thought the city couldn’t refuse. His lawyer called and said “it was a done weighing every alternative. He considered a The Newseum team thought $50 mil- deal.” Overby ran into the hotel lobby, gave place on Constitution Avenue because he lion was a good offer to the city, but they his assistant a congratulatory kiss, and then liked the symmetry with the museum’s also wondered if foreign investors would be his team toasted with champagne. focus on the First Amendment. However, eyeing the site. They decided on $75 mil- Overby recalls the steps required to the Newseum would have to fit into an lion. But then Overby decided to put turn a hole in the ground into the most existing building. another $25 million (to be used for afford- important addition to Pennsylvania >> 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 53 COLLEGE

continued from page 5

Avenue since the Reagan Building. Overby’s office on the ninth floor has a sweeping view of the Capitol dome, the roof of the National Gallery of Art, the clock tower of the Smithsonian Castle and the nation’s other cultural sentries along the Mall. The upper tier of Nationals Park beckons in the distance, as do the ever- present cranes of gussied-up Washington. If he turns just so, he can look toward the Senate press gallery, where he worked for three Southern newspapers after running up and down the hallways as a junior aide to John Stennis, the late senator from Mississippi. “Our main mission is to teach people about the First Amendment. To do that you fish where the fish are,” says Overby. “The way I try to define my role is to be the chief encouraging officer, and I tried to be behind what everybody does and give them the resources,” says Overby. He had the staff hold daily story meetings, just like newsroom planning sessions. Eight out of 12 senior managers were former journalists. Polshek Partnership Architects and Ralph Appelbaum Associates headed the architecture and exhibition design teams. “Those of us with a daily journalism Dean Will Norton Jr. and John Seigenthaler Sr. celebrate at the opening of the Newseum in Washington, background, we are used to completely D.C. The Newseum opened to the public April 11 and chronicles the history of the media. building a newspaper in a day and sending it out, enjoying the fruits of that work, get- The number of details in a complex One overhaul he wanted was the news ting the feedback and building something building didn’t throw Overby and the team history gallery. In the first museum, “we else all over again the next day. If some- off-track. “Charles has always been very made a decision to not start using televi- thing doesn’t work out well, you try some- calm. And if you are going to have frayed sion to show the history until television thing different the next day,” Overby says. nerves, this is the project to make it hap- was invented. That blocked out several “This construction project, you start pen,” says Edward M. Rogers, a partner centuries,” says Overby, and that was a building on Pennsylvania Avenue — you with Nixon Peabody, the project’s lead out- mistake. know, we don’t have a corrections depart- side counsel. Overby represents the television gen- ment. We are building for 100 years or Overby insisted on a clean work site, eration, and decided to scale back some of more.” Rogers says, and would point out imper- the television history to make room for the High on his list of what had to be fections. “If the corners of the railings story of the digital transformation in the done, and done right, were the windows. weren’t right, he would say,‘That is uneven news. “We made an important strategic decision and you need to do it over.’” Zambo, the Overby was born in Jackson, Miss. five years ago to put the views out front for real-estate broker, remembers only one After his father died, his mother, a secre- the visitor,” he says. The Wolfgang Puck angry phone call from Overby, when she tary, raised Overby and his younger broth- signature restaurant and the condomini- got off-message and told a reporter the er. “She worked for some years for a con- um apartments — part of the unusual mix appeal of the site was because it was on the struction company,” says Overby, thinking — would not have the prime vista. “The inauguration route.“It came across as neg- a minute about that irony and his recent visitors have the best elevated view of ative,” she says. “And he was stern and said hard-hat years. Washington that is available. We said, if we he didn’t like it.” After finishing at the University of are going to teach people about the First When it was apparent the project Mississippi in 1968, he worked in Amendment, we need to inspire them. wouldn’t be ready by the original opening Washington and then launched what There is nothing more inspirational than date in October, Overby accepted the became a long career for the Gannett to be able to look at the Capitol and the blame for not anticipating the extra time newspaper chain. He worked as a reporter monuments around here.” needed. and editor at the former Nashville Banner, 16 SUMMER 2008 J ALUNI NEWS 33 os courtesy Susan Norton Phot From left: Dean Will Norton Jr., Jan Neuharth, chef Wolfgang Puck and Joseph Keusch. The Newseum includes the signature Wolfgang Puck restaurant as well as condominium apartments. then as executive editor of Today in Cocoa He shakes his head at the bravery of the collective effort the newspaper joined Beach, Fla. He became president of the his friend Jack R. Thornell, who captured to change education in the state. Gannett Foundation, the nonprofit fund the 1967 prize-winning photo of the One of the hardest decisions, he says, of the media company, in 1989, and then shooting of civil rights activist James was closing the Freedom Forum’s six chairman and chief executive officer of the Meredith. “Everyone else was ducking offices. The offices in London, Hong Kong, Newseum and the foundation’s successor, behind parked cars while the shots were Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, New York the Freedom Forum, in 1997. The forum being fired. He stood up and took the pic- and San Francisco sponsored conferences has given $5 million, added to $2.5 million ture, and you can see Meredith lying on on politics and the press and special issues from the state of Mississippi, for a new the ground in pain. You can see the rifle. such as photojournalism in the digital age. journalism and politics building that will That was such an act of courage,” Overby The work has been folded into guest inter- be named for Overby at Ole Miss. says. That’s in the museum’s Pulitzer national journalists programs and work in There are two episodes regarding civil gallery. the museum’s World News Gallery. “I rights and Mississippi history, now told in Overseeing the museum’s develop- loved those offices,” Overby says. “But if the museum, that he particularly remem- ment follows another important achieve- you are going to run a big-time museum bers. ment in his professional life. In 1983 on Pennsylvania Avenue, you can’t have Overby recalls the day in 1963 when Gannett’s Jackson Clarion-Ledger,where programs and operations on every conti- Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary, Overby was the editor, won the Pulitzer nent.” ■ was killed outside his own home in Prize Public Service Medal for news and Jackson. He also remembers how the local editorials on education reform in paper covered it the next day.“‘Californian Mississippi. “I thought there would never This article appeared in the April 12, 2008, charged in murder.’ And the guy had lived be, and I hate to say this out loud, never be edition of The Washington Post and is in California maybe as a child. I said, we a more exhilarating feeling than the after- reprinted by permission. have got to get that front page.” And it is noon in Jackson, Miss., when we won the part of the 35,000 front pages in the muse- Pulitzer Prize,” Overby says. He wells up um. for a minute and continues talking about J ALUMNI NEWS 73 COLLEGE Spreading the word

Common Cause national president seeks converts in Nebraska

By JOSHUA HOYER

ith the spirit of a Wpreach- er, Bob Edgar, president and CEO of Common Cause, a non- partisan, nonprofit public advocacy organization, came to the College of Journalism and Mass C o mmunications to spread his message of hope for righteous national leadership.

Edgar told an audience of approximately 90 students and others on April 2 at Andersen Hall that average citizens can be the true leaders of the nation. The event was organized by Roger Holmes, a member of the Nebraska chapter of Common Cause. Edgar’s topic was campaign finance reform and the cost of running for office in America. Edgar described Common Cause as a true citizen’s lobby, saying that if citizens wait for their leaders to save them, it will be too late. Edgar, former six-term congressman from Pennsylvania, former president of the Claremont School of Theology in California and once general secretary of the Council of Churches, said the most important job he has had is representing Common Cause. “I want to leave this position when public Photo courtesy Common Cause officials represent public interest, not special BOB EDGAR interest,” he said. 18 SUMMER 2008 J ALUNI NEWS 33 ‘Common Cause, in representing the people, has fought for election reform regarding voting machine accountability and redistricting concerns, charges public, which it says the House campaign finance reform through promotion Ethics Committee has failed to do in many cases. of limits on contributions and spending and Common Cause aided in the creation public financing, media reform and of the office by working directly with the proposal’s author, Rep. Mike Capuano, (D- government ethics and accountability. Mass.). Common Cause members were encouraged to e-mail and call their congressional representatives, and the group BOG EDGAR coordinated media coverage in op-eds, ’ editorial columns and appearances on TV Addressing poverty, racism, national of breaking state campaign finance laws. and radio shows, including CNN and defense and environmental issues, Edgar Holmes said he intended to arrange a National Public Radio. said it is increasingly difficult to enact pos- public talk about finance reform specifi- Currently with 360,000 members, itive change in the world of bipartisan pol- cally, but Edgar wasn’t limited to the topic. Common Cause is mostly composed of itics that is fueled by special interest “Essentially (Edgar) gave a speech 60- to 90-year-olds. Edgar said its target financing. about what Common Cause was all audience now is 45- to 60-year-olds who “Do we want to be a nation of greed about,” he said. are angry with government. He said he and arrogance?” he asked the crowd. “Our Across the nation, Common Cause would like to see more students involved in goal has to be: let’s regain good govern- has been successful in spreading what the democratic process but realizes the ment ethics within government.” Edgar referred to as a “good virus” called organization has to find new ways to reach Edgar said the only way to achieve public financing. Maine, Connecticut and younger people. that goal is for citizens to do the work. Arizona have all seen local public financ- “We want to invade the modern Common Cause, in representing the peo- ing legislation passed as a direct result of empire,” he said. ple, has fought for election reform regard- Common Cause efforts. Also, Common In its quest to become millions of ing voting machine accountability and Cause claimed a victory in its three-year members strong, it plans to use existing redistricting concerns, campaign finance campaign to bring a workable ethics and emerging media. He said Common reform through promotion of limits on enforcement plan to the House of Cause is looking for people to help create a contributions and spending and public Representatives. more effective online approach by expand- financing, media reform and government The first independent Office of ing the use of blogs, You Tube, Internet ethics and accountability. Congressional Ethics, which will monitor sound bites and other new methods to “We are the leaders we have been wait- and enforce ethics regulations, was convey messages. He said Common Cause ing for,” he repeated to the crowd as if approved by the House on March 11. The realizes media are changing rapidly. reciting scripture. office will be a panel of six non-lawmakers “Investigative journalists are being Holmes said the work of the organiza- jointly appointed by the House speaker laid off at a great rate,” he said. tion ranges from research to forming and and the minority leader. The panel will Although he said he realizes the mes- helping pass bills through member contact have the authority to initiate preliminary sage is now the organization’s responsibil- with legislators. In Nebraska, all are ethics investigations and then refer find- ity to convey, Common Cause nevertheless unpaid positions. The Nebraska chapter ings of merit to the House Ethics favors stronger laws on conglomerate helped pass the Campaign Finance Committee. media ownership. Its goal is to protect and Limitation Act in 1993, which limited state Although some critics are concerned strengthen public news outlets and ensure campaign contributions and called for full the new office will be ineffective because it the Internet remains a competitive outlet disclosure of financial sources. It also was lacks subpoena power, Common Cause for ideas. active in the 2006 impeachment of UNL maintains it is a step in the right direction. For more information go to Regent Dave Hergert who was found guilty The panel will be able to take corruption www.commoncause.org. ■

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 93 COLLEGE ‘You make a life by what you give’

By JOHN GOTTSCHALK and a joy. What is it? Simply this: the obligation to use your his morning I am going to share precious education to lead and serve oth- the thoughts of a small town ers. Nebraska boy who has been Among the nearly 200,000 living T privileged to spend his adult life alumni of this institution are many who involved in civic and charitable are using their educational advantage in leadership positions throughout our state service to others. Today you join them. — and nationally. Your capacity for service is already Although not an original thought, let established, and it is richly enhanced by me begin with this premise: You make a the values you hold and the advantage you living by what you have — but you make a have earned. What remains to be seen is life by what you give. Your degree enables how you will develop and use those capa- you to make that living. But I want to talk bilities. to you about what else I hope you will You, like all of us, are not self-made. choose to do with it. There really is no such thing as the “self- What I bring to you today was learned made” man or woman. Each of us is made at the knee of experience. It comes from up of many others. Everyone who has ever observing the actions of my family, my ‘Your special status as done a kind deed for us or spoken one own engagement in civic and charitable word of encouragement to us has entered activities over a 50-year career and learn- a college graduate into the make-up of our character and ing from many with whom I’ve been priv- assisted in our success in some way. ileged to associate throughout my adult brings both a burden The real difference between people is life. energy. A strong will, a settled purpose and It is natural to want to advance and a joy — the an invincible determination can accom- mankind, even if it is positively influenc- plish anything. In these characteristics lies ing just one other person. But how do you obligation to use your the distinction between enjoying the soar- make a difference in this enormous world? ing spirit of fulfillment and enduring the The population of Earth today is education to lead and drudgery of mere existence. about 6.7 billion people. Fewer than one in Sir Edward Gibbon, author of The 20 live in the U.S., and Nebraska’s share of serve others. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the world population is less than three wrote tellingly of the collapse of Athens, one-hundredths of one percent. Each of us JOHN GOTTSCHALK the birthplace of democracy. He judged is but a tiny speck on the world census that, in the end, more than they wanted map. However, your education allows you About 30 percent of your ’world freedom, the Athenians wanted security. to dwarf that almost invisible presence. neighbors have completed high school, but Yet they lost everything: security, Your education is a powerful multiplier fewer than 4 percent have college degrees. comfort and freedom. This was because and a rare enabler. That simply means that about 6.4 billion they wanted not to give to society but for How rare? people have less education than you have. society to give to them. The freedom they The Statistical Abstract of the U.S. and Look at the sea of graduates on this were seeking was freedom from responsi- UNESCO’s most recent data indicate that arena floor this morning. If all the degree bility. It is no wonder, then, that they worldwide, roughly one-third of all candidates here represented the Earth’s ceased to be free. humans have no formal education. Two population, only those in the front row Today I ask you to review your own billion of Earth’s inhabitants have not been would hold college degrees. And only one most important values as I briefly reflect in a classroom. would be a Nebraskan. Think of yourself upon mine. Equally startling, 4 billion or 60 per- as that one. Imagine the opportunity to Family. Some of you have already cent have a grade school education or less. serve a world represented by all who are found a life partner. Others soon will. I That is equivalent to the combined popu- seated around you. value my partner, Carmen, to share my life, lations of China, India, the U.S., Indonesia, Your special status as a “college gradu- to develop my dreams, to share my victo- Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, ate” will bring you deserved satisfaction, to ries and to console my defeats. It is within Nigeria, Japan and Mexico — the 11 be sure. But it brings something else, too, your family that you will find the greatest largest nations on Earth. something that will be with you for all rewards for all that you do for others. Half our world lives on less than $2 your remaining days — something, the Tolerance. Your ability to serve will be per day. acceptance of which, will be both a burden in direct proportion to your ability to lis- 10 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 ▲ Freshmen Rachel Albin, Jamie Klein show off their winning stories from the NPA contest

ten and to understand ideas that do not conform to yours. Compassion. The day will come, if it hasn’t already, that you will, as have I, stoop down to reach out a hand of compassion to a severely mentally disturbed child or an old man locked in silence by the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. Do not fear this day. It will reward your capacity to love, and it will heighten your desire to serve others. Charity. There is a natural law, a divine law, which obliges you and me to relieve the suffering, the distressed and the destitute. Be particularly watchful for the opportunity to shelter little children with the umbrella of your charity for as they must bear the burdens of our mistakes so, too, are they the repositories of our hopes. Faith. It is the glue that will hold you when you must make the toughest calls in Prince Teresa o by your life. You must trust someone. That Phot faith will enable you to accomplish so much more through the empowerment of others. J school freshmen place And, finally, focus sharply on the value of participation. first, second in NPA contest Don’t spend your life and your degree as an observer. Leadership opportunities By CHARLYNE BERENS write a story about the Nebraska super abound for all who are willing to partici- advantage program, which the governor pate in all aspects of life. Vote. Volunteer. t was chaotic. It was nerve wracking. had signed into law the day before. “We Join. Read. Participate. Contribute. And it was the best journalistic fun had never heard of it,”Albin said. And when you have reaffirmed your they’d ever had.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The bill was designed to attract high- values, take some time to dream. Develop When Rachel Albin and Jamie er paying jobs to the state. The measure a vision for your own life in a world with I Klein agreed to represent the J modified the state’s existing business more than 6 billion people less educated school at the Nebraska Press Association’s incentives by adding a new layer of incen- than you are. annual on-site reporting competition for tives for businesses that would create jobs Start early to do those things that will college journalists, they weren’t sure what paying at least 150 percent of the state’s satisfy you at the end of your days that you they’d be getting into. average wage or 200 percent of the average have put back more than you borrowed. By the time they finished, though, wage in the county where the business is To make the wisest and best use of your they had raced around downtown Lincoln located, whichever is higher. degree, serve another generation. — on foot — interviewed a batch of Allen Beermann, executive director of You make a living by what you are sources, written their stories on deadline the NPA, gave the students their assign- about to have — but you will make a life — and taken first and second place in the ment and some background material by what you give. competition. Not bad for a couple of about the bill and sent them on their way With gratitude to this university for freshmen. at 2 p.m. with instructions to be back by 4 touching my life today, I extend my con- The two arrived at the Cornhusker p.m. after doing their reporting — all in gratulations to each of you on reaching Hotel, site of the NPA’s convention, about person. No phones. No Internet. ■ this great milestone. 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 18, to get their Albin and Klein decided to stick assignment for the Tom Allan Memorial together. They said students from the John Gottschalk, president of the World- Writing Competition, named after the other four schools went off in pairs and Herald Co. and recently retired publisher of longtime reporter and columnist for the small groups, too. the Omaha World-Herald, was the speaker Omaha World-Herald. The two UNL journalists headed first at UNL’s May 10 commencement. Above The assignment was to report and to the Department of Labor butxxxxx>> are excerpts of his remarks. J ALUMNI NEWS 11 COLLEGE continued from page 11 were directed to the unemployment office. “with their ingenuity, writing skill and the Not much help. intensity with which they worked.” “We stopped at law firms and insur- And a week or so later, Beermann ran ance agencies,” Klein said. Eventually, they into Kathy Lange, the state’s deputy tax made their way to the Nebraska Chamber commissioner, who had talked with the of Commerce and got an interview there. students. “She said she wished they got Then someone at the Chamber sent them questions from the general citizenry that to the Department of Economic were as sharp as the ones they got from the Development at the State Office Building, students,” Beermann said. where they got some good background on Both Albin and Klein were still bub- the program, the women said. bling over with enthusiasm a week after By that time, it was after 3 p.m. They the event. “Even if we hadn’t won, it would decided to run — literally — to the UNL have been a good experience,”Albin said. campus to look for young people who As it was, she got not only the first would be graduating and looking for jobs place award but also a summer internship because part of the impetus for the bill was with the Kearney Hub. She had met the to entice young people to stay in Nebraska Hub’s editor, Mike Konz, on Friday, and by after graduation. the time the Saturday awards event was At the College of Business over, she had a firm offer. Administration they found a few students But Albin is keeping it all in perspec- willing to talk and then got really lucky: tive. She works part-time at the They found an economics professor. Cornhusker as a banquet server. On When Albin and Klein got back to the Saturday night, one of her tables happened Cornhusker, it was 4 p.m. exactly. The to be occupied by Konz and other Hub other students were already working on staffers. their stories, and all the table space was Back to the real world. ■ taken. So the two UNL students took their laptops to a corner of the room and sat on the floor. The women turned their stories in at Program may help UNL grads stay in Nebraska 5 p.m. on the nose. “I thought it was the worst thing I’d ever written,” Klein said. By JAMIE LEE KLEIN The sixth tier of the Nebraska And neither Klein nor Albin expected to SECOND-PLACE AWARD Advantage won’t only benefit college do well in the competition. graduates, but Nebraskans across the They had been a bit nervous ahead of eff Stenberg doesn’t want to leave state. time, Albin said, “but we decided it’s just Nebraska.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Super Advantage has a higher one afternoon. If it’s awful, we’ll just forget J The senior University of possibility of creating more jobs because about it.” Nebraska–Lincoln business administra- of the higher incentives for larger invest- Klein added, “We tried not to get our tion major is set to graduate in August ments, said Joseph Young, a legislative hopes up. We’re just freshmen.” and has been job-hunting for months. coordinator for the Department of So neither woman was quite prepared “I want to work in Lincoln or Omaha, Economic Development. for the phone calls they got on Saturday (but) I’ll go wherever I get a job,” Stenberg “There are more incentives (and they) morning, checking to be sure they would said. attend the brunch at which the awards are higher incentives,” he said. Much to Stenberg’s relief, Gov. Dave would be presented. As of March 31, the Nebraska Heineman has made it easier for Second place was announced first — Advantage alone has the potential of Nebraska graduates to find good jobs to Jamie Lee Klein. “I had just sat down bringing $4.83 billion investment to locally by authorizing the newest tier of again when they announced first place to Nebraska, said Patty Wood, director of Rachel Albin,” Klein said. “I just flipped.” the Nebraska Advantage on Thursday. marketing for the Department of Each woman received a clock as a tro- “We want to attract businesses that Economic Development. phy. Klein got $100 for her second-place offer dynamic careers for our college The possible investment is a result of story. Albin got $500 for first place. Both graduates,” said Heineman in a statement the 148 applications the Nebraska the trophies and the cash awards are pro- released when the new tier, the Nebraska Department of Revenue has received since vided by Tom Allan’s son, Tam, who spon- Super Advantage, was announced. the program was initiated Jan. 1, 2006. sors the contest in memory of his father. “It sounds really good,” Stenberg With the addition of tier six, the Beermann said Dr. Joyce Winfield, said. “It’s very important to keep people in retired journalism teacher from Midland investment could grow at incredible rates. the state, and I could always use more College, who judged the entries, was “With tier six, the numbers could impressed with the UNL women’s stories, money. I have college loans to pay off.” 12 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 From left: Nebraska tax commissioner Doug Ewald; Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development; Sen. Don Preister, Lincoln (mostly hidden); Sen. Abbie Cornett, Bellevue; Sen. Greg Adams, York; Sen. Carroll Burling, Kenesaw, Gov. Dave Heineman; Sen. Tim Gay, Papillion; and Sen. Ray Janssen, Nickerson, at the signing of LB 895, Nebraska Super Advantage, on April 17, 2008. The bill will help communities recruit businesses offering higher-paying jobs to Nebraska.

By RACHEL ALBIN FIRST-PLACE AWARD Nebraska Super Advantage

or young Nebraskans, a diplo- range stretches from about $50,000 to ma often doubles as a ticket out nearly $92,000. of the Cornhusker State. After The bill is meant not only to help stop the mortarboards hit the floor, the state’s “brain drain” of graduates, but F also to attract outside businesses into the many graduates stream not just off the stage but out of Nebraska, bound state. for their first “real” jobs. “Tax credits will lower the cost of pro- “There’s nothing that appeals to duction, making people more willing to Photo courtesy Nebraska Governor’s Office youth in this town,” said Ryan Gartner, a start businesses in the state … and more senior Spanish major at the University of willing to hire,” said Carlos Asarta, profes- Nebraska–Lincoln. “Which is why I’m sor of economics at UNL. going to leave.” Nebraska Super Advantage is an addi- s stay in Nebraska Governor Heineman signed a bill tion to the Nebraska Advantage, a five- April 17 that could reverse that mind-set tiered program of business incentives that jump up to the billions pretty quickly,” and entice graduates to stay in state. The began in 2006. Wood said. Nebraska Super Advantage, effective The program has already set in Stenberg used to dread going out immediately, gives businesses tax incen- motion $4.83 billion of investment and created more than 13,000 jobs, said Joseph into the real world, but with the tives to invest in self-improvements and create new jobs. Young, legislative coordinator for the Nebraska Advantage on his side, he can The bill is aimed at larger businesses Nebraska Department of Economic focus more on his love of numbers than in any area other than retail that are able Development. The Nebraska Super his fear of having to leave the state. to meet requirements of investing $10 Advantage could raise investments quick- Stenberg developed a love of count- million and creating 75 jobs or investing ly, he said. ing as a child in Lexington, Nebraska, $100 million and creating 50 new jobs. “These are really high-value jobs,” when he played with his grandfather’s The state would take away tax breaks said Bruce Bohrer, executive vice president spare change. from businesses that fail to meet a given and general counsel for the Lincoln “My grandpa would take all the deadline for investment and hiring goals. Chamber of Commerce. change out of his pocket, and if I could Newly created jobs would come with Nebraska Super Advantage would count it, I could keep it,” he said. well above-average salaries. Participating increase opportunities in finance, communications or research jobs, he said, “He stopped after a while because I employers are required to pay either 150 potentially at UNL’s Nebraska Innovation would win every time,” Stenberg said percent of the state average annual income or 200 percent of that county’s annual Park — back on the campus where many with a laugh. income, whichever is higher. The salary graduates the bill seeks to retain began. ■ Now Stenberg is ready to start counting more than the change in his grandfather’s pocket. TIER SIX He wants to find a job as a loan officer in a Nebraska bank. Tier Six is an investment of $10 million to create 75 jobs or $100 million to create “I’ve had a lot of fun in college,” 50 jobs. The jobs will pay at least 150 percent of the state average wage or 200 Stenberg said. “But I’m ready to move percent of the local counties’ average. on.” ■ The investment needs to be met in five years.

J ALUMNI NEWS 13 COLLEGE

Then he added seriously, “We’re inter- In the eye of the storm ested in having someone like Michelle who knows what needs to get done and goes about and does it.” He declared her a “self- Michelle Hassler thrives in her job as assistant to the dean starter” and mentioned she always knows what things need to be done. “She’s thinking about them before I’ve thought about them.” By SARA MCCUE that students pursuing a career in journal- These skills are important for a posi- ism need to be well educated and curious tion that includes things like writing both inside and outside of the classroom. grants, helping to develop the college’s ichelle Hassler’s office “They have to be really perceptive,” she strategic plan and writing reports for the phone seems to ring added. college. But the hectic nature of the posi- constantly. Whether the Now Hassler finds herself at the J tion isn’t a drawback, Hassler admitted, M J school’s assistant to school as Dean Will Norton’s assistant. “It’s sort of what attracted me to the job. the dean is It’s a very exciting college to be receiving countless phone calls working for.” from her coworkers or doing She said UNL’s J school, paperwork, she has a full schedule. along with other colleges and Good thing she loves her job. universities that have prestigious Hassler, a 1980 news-editorial journalism programs, was recent- graduate from UNL, is originally ly invited to join the Carnegie- from McCook. She says she was Knight Initiative on the Future of drawn to UNL because of the rep- Journalism Education. Hassler utation of the journalism college. described the program as “an ini- She always had a passion for writ- tiative to really support journal- ing and was looking for a school ism education and sort of reform that would help her cultivate her curriculum so that it’s the best skills. that it can be.” “In 5th or 6th grade, I made a Along with this, the college is handwritten newspaper for the also working on proposals to neighborhood,” she said. USAID for help establishing jour- Hassler’s love for journalism nalism programs in Ethiopia and and writing runs in the family. Her Kosovo. CoJMC has ties to jour- great-grandfather was a columnist nalism colleges in both of these for the L os Angeles Times , which countries. “We’re trying to get allowed him to travel the world some grant money to continue and to cover big stories like the San our efforts there. In Ethiopia Francisco earthquake in 1906. Her what we’re looking to fund is a grandfather, who was a chemist, media training and production wrote and published eight books. center,” Hassler said. Her mother and grandmother Hassler said she has had were both English teachers. great experiences both at UNL Writing was in her blood from the and at the various newspapers very beginning. where she has worked. Hassler’s first internship was “Journalism was really good to at a newspaper in Golden, Colo. me as a career,” she said. “I Later she worked at both the remember often saying to myself, Tempe Daily in Tempe, Ariz., and ‘I can’t believe I’m getting paid to

the L incoln Journal.Since she was Prince Teresa o by do this.’” hired at UNL, she has taught Phot She acknowledged that, Business Communications 120, MICHELLE HASSLER while some of the stories she cov- Beginning Reporting and ered were frustrating, the vast Journalism 102. Teaching gave her majority of the stories made it all the opportunity to help students worthwhile. She mentioned a story she develop a “passion for good writing.” When asked what kind of person is needed wrote early in her career when she was “I want students to develop this atti- to fill this role, Norton joked, “Someone working in Arizona. A family in a Mexican- tude that they really shouldn’t be happy who can endure terrible puns and enor- American community lost their home in a with their first draft,” she said. She added mous abuse.” fire, and Hassler covered the tragedy. 14 SUMMER 2008 J ALNI NEWS 33 “People started calling the news- By NATE POHLEN Nebraska–Kearney and the University of paper wanting to know how they Nebraska Medical Center. Hinrichs was could help this family,” Hassler nominated by the sequence heads of the recalled. That was when she first real- ive years ago in Andersen Hall, a College of Journalism and by Will Norton ized the impact of her work. classroom was considered a multi- Jr., the dean of the College of Journalism. “Journalists can make a difference,” media classroom if it had a “When we hired him, he improved the Hassler said. F wheeled-in cart with an overhead technology situation,” Norton said. “He While she’s no longer a practicing projector. thinks ahead about what we need to do and journalist, Hassler is still closely Thanks in large part to Luther Hinrichs, what our needs are.” involved with the journalism field. She multimedia carts are history, and Andersen A Minnesota native, Hinrichs moved to said she likes the fact that she “can still Hall is now one of the most technologically- Lincoln when he was in 5th grade. He grad- touch base with people in the profes- equipped buildings on the University of uated from the Doane College Lincoln sion and impact students.” Nebraska–Lincoln campus. Campus in 1993 and then worked at four In fact, Hassler thinks the J “Now,” Hinrichs said, “we have 11 class- different consulting companies in Lincoln school’s faculty is very in touch with rooms that are fully equipped with projec- before joining UNL in 1998. When he the needs of their students. tors, DVD players, VCRs, computers and arrived at the J school five years ago, “All of the faculty have incredible reinforced sound in the ceiling.” Andersen Hall had 125 computers in the background and experience. They’re That sure beats having to race against entire building. Now, there are 345. committed to helping students.” other professors to check out one of three Norton is grateful for the expertise Hassler said she is constantly coveted multimedia centers on wheels. Hinrichs has provided in many areas. impressed by the interaction between Hinrichs, the J school’s computing and “Every semester, computers were break- faculty and students and awed by the technology manager, was nominated for a ing down in the labs,” Norton said. “Some talented students who are enrolled in Kudos Award for his work in updating (technology) guys just play games and try the college. Andersen Hall over the last five years. Kudos stuff out for the fun of it, but Luther wants to Charlyne Berens, head of the Awards are presented monthly by the Board have the best-run technology on campus.” news-editorial sequence at the J of Regents to employees who excel in their In addition to planning for, acquiring school, said Hassler is an invaluable fields at UNL, the University of and setting up the new computers, Hinrichs addition to the college. Berens held the Nebraska–Omaha, University of has improved video editing equipment at position of assistant to Andersen, introduced the the dean from new checkout room on the December 1990 until lower level and installed the 1995, and she remem- The IT guru Avid editing program for bers how much work broadcasting professors. the job entailed. She Hinrichs said he finds says Hassler is a great enjoyment from his job in person to fill the posi- helping faculty and students tion. No matter how Luther Hinrichs keeps the college on with everyday problems, like frantic the job gets, the edge of the technology curve formatting a document, “she’s just cheerful. copying a CD or recovering She doesn’t com- lost information. plain,” Berens said. “If I didn’t like helping Dean Norton LUTHER people, this job would be no praised Hassler for her HINRICHS good,” said Hinrichs. great communication When not running skills. “She doesn’t around Andersen solving designate to the staff problems, Hinrichs is how they’re supposed researching new technologies to behave. [She] urges for the next semester. them to do [tasks] in Currently, he is working on a the way they think is Mac server in his office, the best,” he said. learning about blogging and hs

Hassler’s charac- ic video streaming. He antici- ter and her ability to pates improved audio work well with all the streaming for KRNU in the faculty and staff in near future. CoJMC make her, in “I try to find a new tech- Berens’ words, “a real nology to make the class- asset to the college.” Angie Hinr o courtesy room experience better ■ Phot and make something >> 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 15 COLLEGE continued from page 15 said. “It’s the simple tools — writing easier for the professors to do,” Hinrichs said. SIMPLY and networking — that helped me get On top of all the changes, Norton said to where I am today. When you can Hinrichs operates with a budget smaller than communicate efficiently, it becomes that of almost every other school among the success easier to advance your career.” competitors for the Hearst Journalism Awards, Holman, a 1973 broadcast jour- the annual awards for the top journalism stu- nalism graduate is the winner of this dents in the country. year’s Kappa Tau Alpha Outstanding Vicky Wheeler, Andersen Hall’s business Margaret Holman has Service Award. manager, said Hinrichs’ budget each year is Will Norton Jr., dean of the col- about $72,000. Norton said many schools parlayed the basics lege, said, “The Kappa Tau Alpha competing for Hearst Awards operate on a award is designed for someone like $350,000 budget. into a career as a New Margaret,” a journalism alumnus who “He’s done all this with virtually no budg- has had an outstanding career. et,” Norton said. York fundraiser “She has developed a reputation Among Hinrichs’ biggest projects in his as a top professional in the New York By WILLIAM SCHAMMERT short time at UNL is the introduction of dis- area,” Norton said. “She works with tance learning capabilities into five classrooms. organizations to help them develop Write a clear, concise sentence. Make Hinrichs said professors in Andersen Hall are their revenue stream.” contacts at every opportunity. now capable of teaching, recording and send- But Holman and her husband, Putting those pieces of advice to ing a class live to anywhere in the world. There also a J school graduate, have not for- good use helped propel Margaret are still some kinks to work out though, gotten the school that gave them their Mezoff Holman from the University of Hinrichs said. start. They have established the Nebraska–Lincoln to ownership of her “The interaction at a distance still has a Richard and Margaret Holman own consulting firm in the largest city delay,”said Hinrichs.“It’s minor, but that delay Scholarship fund, which will provide in the United States. is something we’re not used to in conversation. tuition assistance to CoJMC news-edi- The education she received at the It’s still not as seamless as we’d like it to be.” torial or broadcasting students begin- When Hinrichs is not thinking of ways to J school set her up to succeed, Holman keep the college’s technology up to date, he may be continuing the remodeling work on the 1930s farmhouse he and his wife, Angie, own on two acres north of Lincoln. The fami- A place to think and dream ly, which includes Tori, 12, Miles, 10 and Allison, 8, also camps regularly and sails a 16- Holman Plaza provides a setting for faculty, students foot Hobbie cat on Branched Oak Lake. Hinrichs’ talent for fixing and building has to interact with each other and their own thoughts also led to a project he’s been working on since Margaret and I are proud of this J tutional memory, who is one of this J he was 18: restoring a classic 1966 Chevrolet school. This is not just a grand building school’s greatest assets. Charlyne Nova. — now with a welcoming plaza; it’s all Berens, who is advancing the news-edi- While he continues to look for new ways about the people who have developed torial sequence in the midst of a sea to enhance the college and — at the same time its leadership and quality, those who change in the profession. Linda Shipley, — not let the technology in any one area of the make it all about the students. who as associate dean keeps the cos- building get outdated, Hinrichs says his top mic aspects together. And the faculty is priority is giving students the best opportuni- First is the administration, led by Dean Will Norton. I studied under his being refreshed, for instance by Kathy ty to learn and keeping the faculty happy. He Christensen with her national and glob- admits new technology can be frustrating for two predecessors and have since seen the results of his leadership, his national experience in newspapers and broad- everyone, especially with constant new soft- casting. ware updates. al and global vision. What he has built “You can be very bad at technology and be for the students is not just classroom The third leg of this is support for the best teacher in the world,” Hinrichs said. practice but real experience in report- the J school through the University of “It’s more important that you understand the ing and writing for established and Nebraska Foundation. Here, too, are process of how the technology works than it is impressive J school publications on Terry Fairfield, who over the past that you understand the version that you’re contemporary topics with thematic decades as the foundation’s leader has working with.” effects. This is professional prepara- turned it into a powerhouse, and Steve And understanding the process is what tion. Hill, its J school development director, a Hinrichs is there to help with. Second is the faculty. Dean Norton journalism graduate who understands “He eases everyone’s frustrations,”Norton has assembled or nurtured professors both journalism and money, and Tracy said. “He has really made a big difference for with range and depth. Here, for exam- Edgerton, who as planned gifts chief us.” ple, look at Larry Walklin, with his insti- addresses the long-term view for the ■ college. These development profession- 16 SUMMER 2008 ALUNI NEWS 33 ning next fall. For Margaret Holman, the road from In 1991, she founded Holman If the scholarship is meant to benefit her home in Pittsburgh, Pa., through Consulting Inc, which helps national and the mind, the Holmans also are nourishing Lincoln to New York City, took a circuitous international non-profit organizations by the souls of CoJMC students. They are the route through California. After graduating educating staff and lightening high-stress benefactors behind the Richard L. and from UNL, she worked at Nebraska workloads. Her own workload, however, Margaret M. Holman Plaza, a seating area Educational Television Network and in would hardly qualify as light. enhanced by new landscaping and tables public relations for the Lincoln Public She has published two books — “The just west of Andersen Hall along Schools. It was when she moved to Complete Guide to Careers in Centennial Mall. California with her husband in 1976 that Fundraising” and “Major Gifts “Margaret and Dick have a shared she began developing her fundraising Fundraising” — and twice served as chair- vision for the college that includes gener- expertise with her work for a local hospi- woman of Fund Raising Day in New York, ous support that is making a difference in tal. the largest one-day fundraising conference scholarship funds and also in the appear- “I never really planned on a career in in the United States. She is also a special ance of Andersen Hall on Centennial fundraising. I just fell into it,” Holman adviser to the European Association for Mall,” Norton said. said. Planned Giving, headquartered in By 1981, the Holmans were London, England, and she is an adjunct headed for New York City and instructor at NYU. Richard’s new job with Time, Inc. While Holman says she misses the Margaret became a fundraiser for genuinely nice people of Nebraska, she institutions including New York also loves big city life. University, the American Academy of “New York is an exciting city — fast- Dramatic Arts and CARE, the inter- paced and demanding,” she said. national poverty relief agency. At the “Everyone has to be on their toes constant- American Society for the Prevention ly — whether it’s a simple commute to of Cruelty to Animals, she raised work, squeezing on a subway car with 300 more than $29 million while dou- people, or deciding which of the 16,000 bling membership to 400,000. restaurants to go out to at night.” ■

and broadcasting; one sequence is dif- that journalism’s richness is the promise of ficult enough, but two! In her resume, an informed audience. And all that would she wrote her aspiration, which is be true. But all of this matters only to the exactly right — she wants to tell sto- extent that stories engage us and capture ries. And she already has three job us. courtesy the Holmans o courtesy offers. She exemplifies the hard work Phot Whether I was at newspapers here in and promise that we hope will lead DICK AND MARGARET HOLMAN Lincoln or in California or at the Wall Street her to a satisfying journalism career. Journal, readers phoned me — before e-mail We wish her success. — they called their paper, they wanted more als and their colleagues recognize in the J The industry facing Cynthia McCall is information, and they asked me for it. Why school something of great value they help going through dazzling changes — discon- do readers clip news articles, forward them to support, shaping the future of communi- certing but exciting, too. How rare is it that in e-mails, say “Listen to this”? It’s the “gee cations professionals. one can accept a new position and not be whiz factor.” Gee whiz, I didn’t know that. Margaret and I are grateful that the told: “Here’s the way we do it. We’ve Gee whiz, here’s what can make my life bet- training and education we received as UNL always done it this way. Now do it that ter, or worse, or richer, or entertaining, or journalism majors still help us in our way.” Despite the industry upheaval, the J let me know whom to envy or emulate.” careers. We all know that some of our best school is seeing opportunity in these So Holman Plaza gives us all a chance ideas come to us when we are distracted. changes in how Americans want and get to come outside, clear our heads and let And the new Holman Plaza is a perfect incu- and use their news and information. This new ideas percolate. May you find serendip- bator for that. demands a profession with vitality. Still, ity here. ■ some things remain constant. More than The students’ caliber brings honor to ever, we need journalists who have an unas- this college, which brings honor to the uni- sailable command of the language and the The Holman Plaza on the west side of versity. An example of this, here today, is ability to tell a story in a compelling way. Andersen Hall was dedicated during the Cynthia McCall, the first recipient of the Only to this will readers and listeners college’s J Days celebration in April. The Richard and Margaret Holman Scholarship, respond. plaza was renovated and refurnished which we have established for either a through a fund established by Richard and news-ed or broadcasting major. We are I could tell you that the news media are Margaret Holman, alumni of the J school. gratified by Dean Norton’s selection of Ms. the lifeblood of democracy or that on jour- Richard Holman’s remarks at the dedica- McCall, for she is majoring in both news-ed nalism rests the strength of a free society or tion are reprinted here. 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 17 COLLEGE

The NEH grant announcement was made at the Van Brunt Visitor Center on Sept. 14, 2007. From left: Karin Dalziel, Center for Digital Research in the Humanities (CDRH), Laura Weakly, CDRH; Margaret Mering, University Libraries; Mary Woltemath, Nebraska State Historical Society; Brian Pytlik Zillig, CDRH; Katherine Walter, CDRH; John Wunder, CoJMC; Charlyne Berens, CoJMC and Brenden Rensink, graduate research assistant in the history department. Making history accessible

Project will digitize 19th century Nebraska newspapers and put them online

By TYLER BASSINGER

Soon, an exciting period of Nebraska his- Libraries and the co-director of the Center funded grant narrative of the Nebraska tory will be accessible with the click of a for Digital Research in the Humanities, a Newspaper Project (1992-2000). She pre- mouse. joint initiative of the UNL Libraries and pared additional text to address the techni- The J school, UNL Libraries and the the College of Arts and Sciences. “This will cal aspects of newspaper digitization, Nebraska State Historical Society are make the history of the state accessible to while Faling and Wunder focused on the working together on the Nebraska Digital not only people in the state, but also historical side of the project, preparing a Newspaper Project, which will digitize throughout the world via the Internet. To new historical timeline. 100,000 pages of Nebraska newspapers be part of this national effort is very As part of the funded project, Wunder dating from 1880-1910. After being con- important.” and graduate student Brenden Rensink are verted from microfilm, the newspaper files Walter started the project when she writing brief histories for each newspaper, will be sent to a server at the U.S. Library spoke with members of the Library of including details such as how the newspa- of Congress. Then, anyone with Internet Congress and NEH leaders about grant pers’ layouts changed over time, how much access will be able to search the archives of funding for Nebraska’s participation in national news was included in the papers, several historically important Nebraska “Chronicling America: Historic American what role political affiliation played and newspapers at the Web site Newspapers,” an online national database who owned the papers. Wunder said his- http://www.loc.gov/chroniclingamerica. at the Library of Congress. torical expertise was one reason Nebraska Nebraska is among the first nine states Walter discussed a partnership with won the grant, but the collaborative effort to earn grant funding for the nationwide the J school and UNL Libraries, and by among all three groups and the stature of project, which involves a partnership early 2006 she was working on writing a the Center for Digital Research in the between the Library of Congress and the grant application with Andrea Faling and Humanities were what made the project National Endowment for the Humanities. John Wunder. Faling is the State Historical successful. Through a highly competitive grant Society’s associate director of library “When the possibility came for digi- process, the NEH granted Nebraska archives. Wunder has a joint appointment tizing of Nebraska newspapers, which $271,016 for the digitization project in at UNL in the journalism and history would make them available to anyone May 2007. departments and is a former director of nationwide, there was a melding of three “It was quite an honor to be selected,” the Center for Great Plains Studies. constituencies that were concerned about said Katherine Walter, chair of digital ini- Walter coordinated the grant writing it,” Wunder said. “The library, the State tiatives and special collections at UNL based on the proposal of the earlier NEH- Historical Society and the J school were all 18 SUMMER 2008 ALUNI NEWS 33 do want to do papers that represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds because in our state, so many immigrants came and settled here,” she said. “It seems a shame not to include them. We told (the Library of Congress) in our grant application that it is our intent to do some foreign-language newspapers. They will be very interested in how we do that, because it will inform them on how to expand the national project.” A challenge in dealing with foreign- language papers is the diacritics or special characters. In order to be presented in a Web browser, the characters must be encoded using Unicode, a standard for online display of foreign language characters. Once that issue is resolved, Walter said, there is a possibility that Nebraska may be able to host its own Web site with the files of the foreign-language newspapers combined with the English language papers and with special searching func- tions to add value to the work done on behalf of the Library of Congress. For example, the NEH funds do not allow article-level searching. Nebraska is interested in enhancing the files to make this searching possible and may seek private funds Photo courtesy University Communications for this purpose, Walter said. The current process is going smooth- interested. We put all three together, and it like a lot, but this project is just the begin- ly. The history of each paper has been turned out to be a winning combination.” ning. The money started coming in on July written. Utah-based company Work on the project began immedi- 1, 2007, and the two-year grant expires on iArchives.com is doing the digitization ately after the grant was won, and an eight- June 30, 2009. More funding would be and the creation of metadata. The micro- person advisory board was created. The available after that, and Faling is excited film will be converted into an original group included Wunder and J school pro- about the possibilities. TIFF digitized file, and derivatives will be fessor Charlyne Berens. The board had to “It’s a small amount of our newspa- created in PDF and in JPEG2000. The select the newspapers to be digitized and pers, but it is a start,” Faling said. “It’s derivatives will be added to the ensure that all technical specifications important to get our information out to “Chronicling America” database on the required by the Library of Congress were people, and hopefully in the future we’ll be Library of Congress server. Viewers will be met. able to partner in some other projects. We able to zoom in on text and enter key- The newspapers chosen covered a have some ideas in mind for some special words to find specific pages. wide geographic spread, had historical sig- newspapers that we’d like to get additional The project’s partners hope to set the nificance, represented a variety of political grant funding for. It’s kind of a test case for standard for future digitization projects. views and contained a mix of daily and us to begin the process.” Winning the grant is just the beginning weekly publications. They include issues Wunder said a number of German- for Nebraska newspaper digitization. from 1880-1910 of “The Omaha Bee,” Sioux- and Czech-language newspapers Teamwork is the driving force behind the “The McCook Tribune,” “The Falls City need to be digitized so Nebraskans have a successful process. Tribune,” “The Norfolk Weekly News,” better understanding of their state’s histo- “Our grant covers all the angles,” “The Nebraska City Conservative,” “The ry. Faling said she would like to see the dig- Wunder said. “Here you have Love Columbus Journal,” “The Custer County itization of even older papers dating back Library, the State Historical Society and Republican” and a trio of connected to the 1870s, which would cover an excit- Andersen Hall in a triangle within five papers based from “The Valentine ing period of settlement in the state. minutes of walking. It’s fabulous to have Democrat.” The advisory board made sure Walter was also adamant about the cooperation of all three institutions. there was diversity among the newspapers expanding the digitization process beyond This is a big chore in other states. We have, and that the microfilm was in good condi- the current time (1880-1910) and lan- among the three of us, a real kind of cov- tion. guage (English-only) constraints. erage that other states can’t begin to Faling said 100,000 pages may seem “We would love to do more, and we match. Plus, we like working together.” ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 19 COLLEGE

publication to become a true newspaper, The Omaha even choosing the name as a witty joke: The Bee – providing honey but with a sting.2 Although certainly surprised by the paper’s success, Rosewater embraced his Daily Bee new role on the Omaha newspaper scene and buttressed his already active political endeavors by entering the caustic forum of This profile of The Omaha Daily Bee, written lobbying against rival publications and edi- by history and journalism professor John R. tors. In particular, St. A.D. Balcombe’s Wunder and history Ph.D. student Brenden Omaha Weekly Republican and Gilbert Rensink, is part of the Nebraska Digital Hitchcock and William Jennings Bryan’s Newspaper Project. Subsequent issues of the Democratic Omaha Weekly World-Herald

J News will feature histories of other papers ourtesy CDRH felt the ‘sting’ of Rosewater’s upstart Bee.3 that are part of the project. e c Personal attacks, such as those against

Imag Bryan, were usually left to the printed page, but in 1873 they led to actual physical Edward Rosewater, a colorful if not contro- length, raised subscription fees and blows.4 After the two had argued via their versial character in late 19th century claimed to have the largest circulation of newspapers, Rosewater attacked Herald Omaha, founded, published and edited a any paper in Nebraska or Kansas, some editor St. A.D. Balcombe with a cowhide regional newspaper, The Omaha Daily Bee. 2,520 daily copies by 1875. By 1882 this whip until Balcombe wrestled him to the Rosewater was an outspoken ally of the had risen to 6,100 daily copies and 16,000 ground.5 Nebraska Republican Party, and The Bee weekly. It featured eight columns, and a The causes that Rosewater’s Bee would became his pulpit. simple text masthead graced the paper’s advocate or criticize during its run illustrate From its beginning as a daily morning design.1 both the breadth of interest and fervor of newspaper on May 8, 1871, The Bee under- Following Edward Rosewater’s death in the editor. Rosewater’s political leanings went numerous title changes and expan- 1906, the Rosewater family kept the paper were seldom disguised, and as circulation sions with various evening, weekly and in business until selling to a local grain and regional importance grew, Rosewater other special editions until it was subsumed dealer in 1920. The Bee was subsequently used The Bee explicitly to further by a rival paper in 1937. These affiliated bought by William Randolph Hearst in Republican Party agendas. titles and editions included The Omaha 1928, who would sell it in 1938 to one of For example, during the 1906 Morning Bee, The Omaha Sunday Bee, The Rosewater’s fiercest original competitors, Nebraska Legislature election season, Omaha Illustrated Bee and its final title, the Omaha World-Herald. The various edi- Rosewater offered a large two-column list The Omaha Bee-News. tions of The Bee are housed at the of 82 individuals for whom he said readers Rosewater’s daily covered national Nebraska State Historical Society in should vote.6 Surrounded by the populist, news but primarily focused upon local and Lincoln. and later progressive, fervor in the Great state politics and economics. The daily orig- The Bee was originally published as a Plains, The Bee evolved into fiercely anti- inally cost $7 per year and ranged from two temporary venture solely aimed at pushing trust and pro-labor positions.7 pages in its earliest issues to 20 or more through a piece of local educational reform Rosewater came out in support of pop- pages in its final 1930s editions. Within the legislation of which Rosewater was a key ulism, helping elect Nebraska’s first pop- first two years of publication, The Bee was proponent. Indeed, Rosewater himself com- ulist governor, Silas A. Holcomb, and so successful that it increased its page mented that he never intended the small reporting positively on populist meetings

1 A.T. Andreas, History of the 5 Omaha’s First Century: American War, 1895-1898” The Rutherford B. Hayes to State of Nebraska (Chicago: The Installment VII (Omaha: Omaha Mississippi Valley Historical Woodrow Wilson (Ne w York: De Western Historical Company, World Herald, 1954). Available Review 26 (Mar., 1940): 532; Capo Press, 1997), 72. 13 1882), 722-23. Available online online at http://www.historicom- Omaha Daily Bee, March 30, Mark Robert Schneider, We at http://www.kancoll.org/ aha.com/ofcintro.htm. 1874; Omaha Evening Bee, April Return Fighting: The Civil Rights books/andreas_ne/. 6 Omaha Evening Bee, June 22, 7, 1917; April 25, 1917. Movement in the Jazz Age 10 2 Omaha Evening Bee, August 1906, 1. Omaha Daily Bee, March 30, (Lebanon, NH: University Press 31, 1906, 1. 7 John Faris, ed., Who’s Who in 1874; Omaha Morning Bee, 26 of New England, 2002), 33. 14 3 David L. Bristow, “Dueling Nebraska (Lincoln: State Journal July 1925. Larsen and Cottrell, 164; 11 Editors.” The Reader, June 3, Publishing Co., 1940), xvi. Floyd W. Tomkins, “The Pros Orville Menard, “Tom Dennison, 1999. 8 Faris, xvix. and Cons of Prohibition,” Annals The Omaha Bee, and the 1919 4 Paxton Hibben and Charles A. 9 Omaha Daily Bee, March 1, of the American Academy of Omaha Race Riot,” Nebraska Beard, The Peerless Leader: 1898, 4; March 13, 1898, 12; Political and Social Science, 109 History 68 (Winter 1987): 152- William Jennings Bryan April 17, 1898, 12; George W. (September, 1923):17. 165. 12 (Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Auxier, “Middle Western Rayford Whittingham Logan, Publishing, 2004), 264. Newspapers and the Spanish The Betrayal of the Negro: From

20 SUMMER 2008 ALUNI NEWS 33 and conventions. He would, however, stead- fastly oppose Democrat William Jennings J school student’s mom Bryan.8 Tangential to the world of politics, civic events also made headlines. Rosewater helps UNL celebrate women repeatedly used The Bee to promote the 1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition World’s Fair in Omaha for which By CHARLYNE BERENS it was too expensive, something only he was the primary organizer. celebrities could afford. The Bee continued publication for But Jackson began to do research some 30 years following Edward athyne Jackson lost six dress about the procedure, looking at the risks Rosewater’s death, and the differences in sizes — and found herself.xxx and benefits and searching for a doctor. “I content prior to and following his death are The Washington, D.C., realized there were a lot of people like me,” significant..Rosewater had used the paper woman, whose daughter, she said, and she decided to keep a diary to take a staunch anti-war position during K Courtney Robinson, is a about her experience. “I was talking to the Spanish-American War of the late news-editorial major at the J school, was in myself,” she said about the journal. 1890s, but under the editorship of Lincoln in March as one of the featured Once she made up her mind to have Rosewater’s son, Victor, the paper support- speakers during UNL Women’s Week. She the surgery, she didn’t tell anyone what she ed World War I as a referendum on patriot- came to talk about her motivation for was planning, not even her family — 9 ism. undergoing liposuction and how that sur- except for her son, Justin, 30. She needed On the issue of women’s involvement gery changed her life. someone to help her in the early days after in public, civic and political matters, Six years ago, Jackson, the mother of she came home from the hospital. Edward Rosewater expressed a pro- two, was divorced and depressed. And she She kept writing in the journal, every nounced wariness, whereas the Hearst-era was dreadfully out of shape. “I couldn’t go day for three months. And she decided editors took a more positive tone, extolling up seven steps without stopping to rest,” sharing her experience via her writing the virtues of the nation’s first female governor, Nellie Ross of Wyoming.10 Also of she said. might help other people facing situations note, Rosewater had remained largely silent on the various temperance move- ments of the late 19th century, but later editors took a strong pro-prohibition position.11 On issues of race and ethnicity, The Bee remained consistently intolerant. Prominent examples include opposing the 1890 Lodge or Force Bill, which was designed to ensure fair voting practices for southern African Americans through federal oversight, and complaining about the etNebraska influx of ethnic minorities into Omaha sN throughout 1909.12 The Bee’s most infamous involvement in racial politics surrounded its vitriolic courtesy New o courtesy 1919 campaign against supposedly cor- rupt law enforcement.13 This effort led Phot Kathyne Jackson (center) was a featured speaker during UNL Women’s Week. Her directly to the 1919 mob riot on the daughter, Courtney Robinson (left) is a news-editorial major at the J school. Douglas County Courthouse, which evolved Courtney’s grandmother, Jennie L. Jackson (right) visited Lincoln as well. Kathyne into a race riot and resulted in the burning Jackson wrote a book based on her diary titled Dear Diary: What My Doctor Never of government buildings and the lynching Told Me about Liposuction. and burning of Will Brown, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.14 ‘Kathyne is an example of a mother who The evolutionary nature of The Bee’s outspoken rhetoric, moving from provides leadership for her daughter. Rosewater’s own to that of subsequent editors, is a strong example of the dramatic influence that individual turn-of-the-century UNL WOMEN’S CENTER DIRECTOR JAN DEEDS newspaper editors had on their publica- ’ tions. With such decisive influence, these She decided it was time for a change, similar to her own. So she organized her editors exerted significant pressure on the so she started to exercise — just walking. diary into a book: Dear Diary: What My direction and substance of local Omaha And then, at 250 pounds, she began to Doctor Never Told Me about and state political history. ■ contemplate liposuction. Her friends said Liposuction. >>

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 21 COLLEGE continued from page 21 Bringing In the meantime, she kept working on her physical condition. “I got a treadmill so there’d be no excuse not to keep on walking,” she said. She watched past and what she ate, used a smaller plate and learned to stop eating when she was full. She went from a size 22 to a 16. “In future college, I was a size 16 — and I hated it,” Jackson said. “Now, at 50, I’m loving it.” She also loves her new energy level, together and she loves to talk about the success she’s experienced. She’s done a number of radio interviews in the D.C. area. Jackson’s participation in the With its signature events Women’s Week program came about in fall 2007 when she came to celebrate and overall support, the UNL’s homecoming with her daughter. They stopped by the university J school alumni board Women’s Center and made connections with director Jan Deeds. encourages current Deeds said planning had begun for students the March conference, which was to focus on women as leaders. Organizers had discussed including some examples By KARA BROWN of mothers who provided leadership for their daughters, and Jackson fit that bill precisely. hen the University of “Kathyne had done that both infor- Nebraska– Lincoln’s mally and, now, formally,” Deeds said, Alumni Association so the Women’s Center invited her to be W cut funding for col- on the conference program. Deeds said lege-specific alumni another mother of a UNL student was boards several years ago, Will Norton had also a presenter at the conference, a choice to make. designed to raise awareness of women’s The dean of the College of Journalism accomplishments and “just to celebrate and Mass Communications could either women.” spend the money that remained in the col- At UNL, Jackson told her story and lege’s alumni association budget or save it encouraged the women listening to and give it to the University of Nebraska believe that they, too, could make Foundation to develop interest. changes. “As women, we nurture every- He chose to be patient. one else,” she said. “Sometimes we need “We said we didn’t want it to be just to put ourselves on that list.” spendable money; we wanted it to grow events.” Now she’s written another book, over time,”he said.“That’s our goal — that The first is a reception for graduating this one a mystery titled Ranger and the we will have enough money available over seniors the Friday before UNL’s com- Gang: The Case of the 12-Hour Deadline. time instead of just using money we have mencement. The ceremony recognize each And she runs an online business selling and not getting any interest off of it.” senior who attends and provides a more her books: www.kjacksonbooks.com. He’s glad he made the decision he did. personal environment for students and She finds it ironic that the same Even though the board isn’t yet financially their families to celebrate the seniors’ friends who told her she could never independent from the university, it’s well achievements than does the mass UNL afford liposuction have been excited on the way. And more money means more graduation ceremony the next day. and supportive about what she’s done. benefits and programs for both students “It’s our way of recognizing them as And that’s inspired her all the more to and alumni. future alumni, giving them an entry point be an evangelist for good health. According to Ashley Washburn, the into the field, and helping them transition I’m so passionate about this mes- board’s president and a communications into professional roles,”Washburn said. sage,” she said. “I want people to be specialist with UNL’s Office of Research, As a symbol of the transition, the sen- healthy.” ■ the Alumni Board has two “signature iors receive a leather portfolio with an “N” 22 SUMMER 2008 ALUNI NEWS 33 Immediate past journalism advisory board president Dara Troutman addresses graduating students, parents and friends in a packed lecture hall in May.

Even though most of the meetings are conducted via teleconference, Norton said, because they help with events at the college and have occasional face-to-face meeting, most members work in the Lincoln and Omaha area. “It would be hard for somebody in Washington to be on the board,” Norton said. Ex-officio board members include Norton and Rick Alloway, a broadcasting professor who serves as the liaison between the board and the school. Alloway reports to the board about the status of the school, and board members share what they’ve noticed is becoming important in their fields. “The Alumni Association is really important in keeping people connected to their school. They see where we are and keep us moving in the right directions,” Alloway said. Another function of the board is to provide concrete connections for students to their future professions — and that means “crafting internships and job opportunities,”Alloway said. But the board’s job isn’t limited to events and employment. The members do whatever they can, whether it’s reviewing seniors’ portfolios or giving input for special events. “We try to support the college and alumni in any way we can,”Washburn said. Alloway agreed, adding that the board works through many avenues to help raise the profile of the college within the alum- File photo by Adam Wagler ni community. And it could provide an even more embossed on it — a reminder of their past said. integral role in the future, he said. The and a tool for the future. Along with Washburn, the board is led board wants to help more with the col- According to Washburn, the seniors by Cheryl Stubbendieck, vice president lege’s recruitment efforts and could sup- and their families really enjoy the event. It and secretary, and Barry Kriha, treasurer. port the college in other ways as well. has grown in popularity in the last few The board meets monthly. “They would be the ones able to mar- years, so much so that the lecture hall in The board is composed of a variety of shal working professionals for a cause,” he the J school is barely able to accommodate accomplished professionals: “We try to said. everyone. represent each discipline — we have four Norton also sees good things for the “Each reception is better attended,” from news editorial, four from broadcast- board. she said. “It’s become pretty popular.” ing and four from advertising,” Washburn “I hope it’s a good and long relation- The board also hosts a luncheon for said. ship. I think the secret of it is whether the distinguished alumni at the end of J Days, Members serve a maximum of two endowment can increase and they can honoring one alumnus from each three-year terms, which are staggered to become independent and make their own sequence and a non-alumnus who has insure a mix of new and old members each decisions,” he said. made significant contributions, Washburn year. “That’s really crucial.” ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 23 COLLEGE Coping with community’s elites because information will take a multi-step flow to the rest of the population. He added he doesn’t see that kind of change coming from within jour- future shock nalism but said journalists must teach journalism ethics to outsiders who make innovative use of information. He recom- mended that journalism programs stress Conference suggests ways media can change the basics of ethics and the role of the media in democracy. their ways and survive to serve democracy Communication research and By CHARLYNE BERENS the changing news environment

Robert Entmann of George Washington aybe it is time to panic. University talked about how to improve That was the headline the democratic contributions and eco- on a story by Carl nomic prospects of traditional journalism. M Sessions Stepp in the He said political journalism should April/May 2008 issue of respond to changing audience interests American Journalism Review. The piece and the growing number of alternatives to was subtitled “Why news organizations traditional newspapers and newscasts but have to act much more boldly if they are to must remain true to the higher ideals of survive.” watchdog journalism. And if news organizations must take Entmann said most citizens are “cog- bold steps, it follows that journalism pro- nitive misers” who are not interested in grams must also be taking some bold steps abstractions about candidates, issues and as they try to prepare students for the policies. Thus, most citizens do not media of the future. demand high quality news. Diagnosing that future and figuring But is that OK? Some scholars say cit- out how to respond to it was the topic of a izens using rudimentary information and June 20-21 conference in Boston that six simple decision rules can still participate faculty from the CoJMC at UNL attended. The conference was sponsored by the adequately in a representative democracy. Carnegie-Knight Task Force on the Future of Journalism Education and organized by the Others say citizens’ failures to puzzle Joan Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s John through which candidates or policies are F. Kennedy School of Government. most likely to benefit them will result in a government overly dominated by elite Working journalists and the changing news environment power. If the latter are correct, what can the media do to better serve citizens’ Stepp, who teaches in the University of Maryland’s journalism college, led off the discus- needs? sion, pointing out that journalism and the mass media have adapted to change after Entmann proposed six new guide- change in the past and that they can adapt again. He asserted that working journalists — lines: not only publishers and top editors — can play a leading role in developing needed 1. Most media frames should be cre- changes. ated equal. He defined frames as selected Stepp suggested journalists must use their influence to act as entrepreneurs, advanc- facets of events, issues and political actors ing imaginative uses of information — before non-journalists do so. That includes com- that the news repeatedly highlights and ing up with ideas not only for content improvement but also for suitable ways to produce connects in ways that promote a particular revenue, he said. interpretation. He said research suggests However, Tom Fiedler, the newly named dean of the College of Communication at people are less easily manipulated when Boston University, said he was skeptical about Stepp’s premise. “Good journalists are not they are given competing frames to con- always entrepreneurial in nature,”he said. Most journalists don’t see a problem with jour- sider — frames that may challenge what nalism itself but with the current business model. Jenifer McKim, a Neiman Fellow at audiences already know. Harvard, supported that notion. 2. The need for narrative. People like Phil Meyer from the University of North Carolina also expressed doubts about good stories with interesting characters Stepp’s position. Meyer suggested that today’s media must shift their focus from a mass and suspense about outcomes, he said, but audience to niche audiences. He said media can direct much of their attention to the individual news reports tend to be driven

24 SUMMER 2008 WS 33 by the day’s events, unconnected to rele- The changing demand for news The economics of news: the vant prior events and larger societal truths. and news product prospect for new (and old) Entmann suggested creating continu- business models ity editors who would be sure that recur- A demand for news does not necessarily ring stories relate logically to what came equal a demand for a news product, said Robert Picard of Jonkoping International before as well as to other stories that pro- Markus Prior of Princeton. Business School in Sweden said newspa- vide context about an issue or event. The demand for a news product pers are, indeed, facing challenges because 3. The roles of emotion and play involves consideration of the price and of consumer choices and pressures on The market seems to be driving news availability of the product, how well a per- advertising revenues, but he said their media to the understanding that news son likes the product and how easily sub- overall status is not as desperate as many consumption and political learning need products are available. The demand for make it out to be. He said many of today’s not be entirely devoid of play and enjoy- news depends more simply on how well problems are the result of unsuitable ment, Entmann said. Framing stories in someone likes news. strategic choices and imprudent use of terms of threats to cherished values and In today’s world of multiple media resources media companies have made in interests could provide a way to combine choices, a person’s preference for news is past decades. the watchdog role with profit generation. the most important predictor of his or her He said the best long-term option for 4. Enough already with the president political knowledge. Those who prefer media companies today is to develop new The executive branch receives about entertainment simply drop out of most of revenue streams, which may not involve 80 percent of politics coverage on network the democratic process, Prior said. journalistic products or services. And newscasts, Entmann said, even though However, the 10 to 20 percent of peo- newspapers should stop thinking they Congress has at least an equal influence on ple who are news junkies contribute a must continue to serve a mass audience. citizens’ lives. great deal to what the rest of the popula- Newspapers are providing poor-to-average 5. Keep it simple but not stupid tion knows, he added, by “ringing the fire quality content at a low price to an audi- Simplifying aids to rationality are nec- alarm” to arouse the interest of the general ence interested in average-to-good quality essary, but their overuse can lead to rein- public in a particular issue or situation. content. forcing audience stereotypes. Matthew Baum of Harvard talked Picard said news organizations need 6. Markets pose problems — and about fragmentation of media and said to spend more effort thinking about the opportunities people seek information that reinforces value they create and how to increase it. New communication technologies their views. That tendency becomes even And they should alter their business mod- provide both challenges and promise, more pronounced for political junkies els to include multiple sources of funding Entmann said, providing audiences an with a consequent increase in partisan rather than relying on merely one or two. opportunity for deep involvement with polarization. Phil Balboni of Global News each other and with journalists. Journalists A partisan press could be a good Enterprises said his firm has founded the will undoubtedly lose authority over con- thing, he said, but there are big differences first purely Web-based product devoted to structing the public sphere as interactions between the original partisan press and international news. Its mission is to give a among audiences and between them and that of today. For one thing, the media of a breadth of international coverage no one journalists grow. century and more ago had far fewer read- else is supplying. GNE is funded by In the following discussion, panel ers than today’s media outlets do, and investors and also charges for “premium” moderator Tom Patterson of Harvard today’s citizens have a far wider variety of content. It also will syndicate its content asked the panelists whether a partisan- media to choose from. for newspapers and Web sites worldwide. laden journalism would be more informa- Rod Hart of the University of Texas, He said the firm’s challenge is to provide tive than what has become known as panel moderator, said he thought journal- both high quality and profitability. “objective” journalism. Vince Price of the ists should be paying more attention to Tim McGuire of Arizona State recom- University of Pennsylvania said it’s not up three words — authority, time and credi- mended that one huge part of the solution to the journalists to decide if that’s going bility — and raised questions about each. to the crisis facing media is to equip jour- to happen. Any group today can get out its He asked what the market is for nalism students to solve problems via own message with no problem. authoritative information and what it is entrepreneurship, innovation and story- And he said partisan journalism that decision-makers are reading. telling. would not divide citizens further because Regarding time, he said students believe “Professors do not have the answers,” partisanship is what draws people to poli- the news they need will get to them some- he said. “Our kids do.” Rather than pre- tics in the first place. However, he said how. He wondered what is the nature of tending they can show students the way to journalists should not stop with a partisan secondhand news and how does it get to a successful future, faculty members must take on news. While no one can force peo- people. And he asked what is the minimal give students the tools and confidence to ple to agree on something, journalism can amount of information a person needs to find the new business models that will at least encourage them to talk to and be a minimally competent citizen. enable the media to continue to serve understand each other. democracy, he said. ■ J ALUMNI NEWS 25 ALUMNI fyi Down an alternative path

on his mind, and he wouldn’t sugar coat journalism. Pekny finds satisfaction it,”Brown said. “When you sugar coat, you Although he took a career outside of lose information in the process.” journalism, Pekny said he still uses many in work for non-profits Alberto Ibarguen, former publisher of skills he learned at the J school. The Miami Herald, recognized that same At Goodwill, Pekny was recently pro- By CHELSEY MANHART straightforward quality in Pekny as a jour- moted to the position of business develop- nalist. ment and grants manager. He researches “Shane was one of those people you and writes grant applications for all fter an internship at the trust from the moment you meet him to Goodwill programs, which mostly include Miami Herald his first sum- tell you what he really thinks,” Ibarguen projects providing education and job mer out of college, Shane said. training for disadvantaged and disabled Pekny received an offer many Pekny, Ibarguen said, thrived at The people. A Miami Herald during his internship, “I always have opportunities to apply aspiring journalists would find hard to refuse. And he turned it down. bringing not only a Midwestern and young the skills I learned in journalism,” Pekny The Miami Herald offered the 2003 person’s perspective to the newspaper but said. “I research, I write, and, in a way, I UNL news-editorial graduate an opportu- also intelligence, insight and a knack for interview people every day. You have to nity to stay at the major metropolitan know how to call people up and talk to newspaper, but Pekny said he wanted to them.” help people in a different way — through Joe Starita, an associate professor of work outside of the newsroom. news-editorial at the J school, said he was- “Journalism is one way to roll up your n’t surprised Pekny was drawn to public sleeves and help out. It’s just not the only service after college. way,” Pekny said. “Shane has always been a little bit rest- The Norfolk native moved back to less,” Starita said. “I always assumed he Nebraska to join the national public serv- would go the way his social conscience ice agency AmeriCorps and has worked for thought he could do the most good.” nonprofit organizations ever since. Pekny said one of the most influential

While in AmeriCorps, Pekny helped y experiences he had at the J school was build houses for low-income families ekn being a part of Starita’s depth reporting through Habitat for Humanity and later class during his senior year at UNL. Pekny became a construction site supervisor for was one of nine UNL journalism students the organization. who, after a semester of research, spent 11 Through his work with Habitat for days reporting in Miami and Havana and courtesy Shane P o courtesy Humanity, Pekny got a job with Goodwill then another semester compiling a 75- Industries as a coordinator for the Omaha Phot page magazine on Cuba. YouthBuild program, which allows high SHANE PEKNY Pekny’s interviewing and reporting school dropouts to earn their diplomas skills, Starita said, made him a valuable and GEDs while building low-income addition to the year-long project. homes and learning construction skills. ‘Shane doesn’t make “Shane was a key player on the Cuba Serving as both an instructor and a team,” Starita said. “He was assigned to do mentor for students at Youthbuild, Pekny decisions based on some of the toughest, most difficult and said he gained experience that made him most complex stories, and he knew just committed to public service. how to make the most enough Spanish to be dangerous.” “I met a lot of kids who had the deck Pekny said the poverty and devasta- stacked against them from day one, but money or become tion he witnessed while reporting in Cuba here they were, trying to take advantage of made him determined to try to make a dif- this second chance,” Pekny said. “I learned the most famous. ference in the world. in a deep and personal way that everyone “We aspire as reporters and writers to deserves a second chance.” He makes decisions cause change,” Pekny said. “Once you see Herman Brown, the contract sales on what is the most how ingrained injustice is in Cuba and manager at Goodwill and Pekny’s former how hard it is to change that, you want to supervisor for YouthBuild, said Pekny valuable to him. do something about it.” stood out because he was never afraid to be The need for change he saw in Cuba, honest. Pekny said, helped influence his decision “Shane would say truthfully what was FORMER CLASSMATE MATT HANSEN to take a nonprofit career path back at 26 SUMMER 2008 ’ J ALUMNEWS 33 Discovering what she already knew

Juanita Page uses the expertise she honed at the J school in her work for the Discovery Channel home. “When you see some of the By KRISTIN LIMOGES said she was the only intern in her program severe social ills that a country who knew how to edit tape. suffers from, you realize that “It seemed as if I was the only one pre- some people have to really roll uanita Page loves the thrill — the pared to take on the challenges they were ask- up their sleeves and try to fix pressure, the challenge, the deadlines. ing us to do. All the things they have you do in that.” She thrives on it.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx your broadcast journalism classes is everything Although Pekny said he J Her skills have put her where she is they had me doing on the internship.” doesn’t know where he will go today: network manager and the Trina Creighton, a UNL broadcasting pro- next in his career, the 28-year- advertising sales producer for Discovery fessor, was a mentor and like a “surrogate old is always open to new experi- Health Channel. mother” to Page, said Creighton, who teaches ences, a trait, he said, that drew Page graduated from the J school with a the Star City News class in which Page said she him to journalism in the first broadcasting degree in December 2004. honed her broadcasting skills the most. place. She credits the college with its hands-on “You meet a student like her every once “The journalism school was courses and ability to prepare students with and then; she’s special,” Creighton said. “She a good fit for me because I real world experiences. Those experiences was creative and coachable, and she listened.” enjoyed being a jack of all helped her to learn the skills she applies now It doesn’t hurt that she’s “terribly attractive” trades,” Pekny said. “Journalism for success at the Discovery Health Channel in with brains and a good heart to match, allowed me to learn about all Washington, D.C., where she produces and Creighton said. different kinds of things.” writes commercials. Creighton accompanied Page to the In addition to his position “It’s fast paced; it’s one of those jobs where Hearst Journalism Awards Program finals. “It’s at Goodwill, Pekny is working the turnaround time is so fast,” Page said. been 20-some years since we’d been to the toward a master’s finals,”Creighton said. “If the talent’s no good, degree in English from you can’t go anywhere.” the University of Page placed fourth nationally in the com- Nebraska at Omaha and petition. “I’m so proud of her,”Creighton said. regularly submits cre- Will Norton Jr., the dean of the college, ative nonfiction articles traveled with Page and Creighton to the Hearst to be published in liter- competition. “People went crazy over ary journals. Juanita,” Norton said. “Shane has so “She, in many ways, was the first African many different avenues American national prominent placer in the open to him,” said Hearst competition.” Norton said she helped Matthew Hansen, who pave the road for other African Americans at was one of Pekny’s JUANITA PAGE UNL to compete and place in national compe- classmates at the J CoJMC file photo titions. school. “He doesn’t Page grew up and went to school in make decisions based on how to Page said she loved competing during col- Omaha. When she applied for college, UNL make the most money or lege — in the classroom and on a national seemed like a great choice. She was offered become the most famous. He stage. She was in the top five nationally in the scholarships, and she would be near her big, makes decisions on what is the television news division of the Hearst loving family from Omaha. She has two broth- most valuable to him.” Journalism Awards Program, which is designed ers, one sister and 10 nephews, all located in For now, Pekny has decided to encourage excellence in journalism in col- the Midwest. But she didn’t know UNL would to serve the public outside the leges and universities. become a home away from home. newsroom, and Ibarguen said he “Being able to write quickly and edit “Sometimes a place can be too big that is confident Pekny will be suc- helped me compete,” she said. you can’t really take advantage of the family cessful no matter what direction She was also a two-time national champi- atmosphere. You can’t get cozy and familiar his career takes. on for UNL’s Cornhusker Forensics Program, with some of the programs and classes that are “[Pekny] is a man driven by the speech and debate team. “On my resume, being offered,” Page said. “Sometimes the passion and a sense of mission,” the one that sticks out, besides the Hearst pro- school can be too small and not have the tools Ibarguen said. “Whether that gram, is being a national champion on speech or facilities to offer different programs and mission is to house the poor or and debate team,” she said. classes. inform the community, he’ll do Page obtained an internship at the “But UNL was just right. It’s a big campus, it better than just about anybody Discovery Channel while in college, an oppor- but it’s still friendly; an atmosphere that feels else.” xxx ■ tunity that allowed her abilities to shine. Page like home.” ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 27 ALUMNI fyi A valuable base

various types of journalists.” Journalism preparation helped For Wirz, baseball and journalism have gone hand-in-hand since he first attended UNL. Bob Wirz succeed in PR “Growing up in the Sandhills of Nebraska I developed a love for baseball,” By MARCUS SCHEER Wirz said. He was determined to be involved in the sport. aseball fans remember the 1975 World Series. “I did not have the playing talent and [journalism] was the way that I could see They remember the 12th inning of Game 6.xxxxx getting there,”Wirz said. They remember watching Boston Red Sox catcher At UNL, he studied print journalism B and broadcasting with the intention of Carlton Fisk start down the first base line, waving his working in baseball. He covered sports at arms in an effort to keep the ball in fair territory. Baseball fans the campus newspaper and radio station. remember the ball nearly hitting the foul pole, barely staying His senior year, he joined the Lincoln Journal newspaper, starting part time. By fair, giving Fisk the game-winning home run. the time he graduated, he was spending most of his time in sports. But before Fisk’s home run, He graduated with a degree rain delayed the start of Game 6 in speech, but his eye remained for three days. Someone had to on journalism and baseball. keep the media busy. Someone “Shortly after graduation, I had to keep the spotlight on the went to Hastings to work at the series. radio and television stations in Bob Wirz was that man. sports,” Wirz said. “Those things As director of information launched me … before I got into for Major League Baseball, Wirz, baseball.” Wirz worked on the a 1959 UNL graduate, was in sports desk at the Lincoln charge of keeping the spotlight Journal, the Wichita Eagle and on the series through the rain. the Denver Post, but he never lost “We had some 500-600 his boyhood passion for base- journalists there (in Boston), ball. and we needed to provide “It was always with the opportunities for them to inter- desire to have a career in base- view some of the key partici- ball,” Wirz said of his work in pants and keep the story alive journalism. His first professional during this long period between baseball job came in 1967 as the when games were played,” Wirz public relations director for the said. minor league Denver Bears. In the end, Fisk hit his home He joined the Kansas City run over the Green Monster in Royals as a publicity director in Fenway Park to force a dramatic 1969. Game 7 against the “Big Red By the time Fisk hit his Machine” Cincinnati Reds. homerun in October 1975, Wirz Wirz’s training as a journal- had become the chief spokesman ist at the University of for Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Nebraska–Lincoln gave him an He said his journalism expe- Wirz understanding of what journal- b rience gave him his head start in ists needed to cover the 1975 setting up interviews and releas- World Series. ing statements to the media. “A journalism background He also worked with teams … is almost essential for some- Bo o courtesy to prepare to host the media at one going into public relations,” Phot World Series and All-Star Wirz said. “[It is] a head start in BOB WIRZ Games. His involvement understanding the needs of the increased as the commissioner

28 SUMMER 2008 ALUMNI NEWS 33 40 years –

‘I could not see that together

anyone else in the column on independent baseball. “I concentrate today a lot on writing, country was taking an frankly more than I have since I left the Tillinghast, Stover overview approach newspaper field,” he said of his “Independent Baseball Insider.” are mainstays of [in writing] to the “I have created a name for myself in that market,” he said of his six-year-old journalism program independent baseball column. According to Wirz, his column evolved during his ownership of some at San Jose State leagues. I created independent teams. “I could not see that anyone else in By CLIFF LOUNSBURY that niche. the country was taking an overview approach [in writing] to the independent baseball leagues,”Wirz said. “I created that BOB WIRZ hile they came to the niche. There would be people writing University of Nebraska ’ about certain teams but not so much on J school in the ’60s to took more control of those games under an overview.” get a good education, the league’s direction instead of allowing His commentary is subscriber-driven; W Diana Stover and the games to be controlled by the host Wirz e-mails his insights on independent William Tillinghast also unexpectedly teams. baseball once a week March through found something else: each other. “I was very involved in working with September and about twice a month dur- Now the UNL alumni are married, the teams to be sure there was a consisten- ing the offseason. He writes an overview of and both teach at San Jose State cy of the way we handled the media,”Wirz the 62 independent teams throughout University. said. “Whether the series was in New York eight different leagues. The news-editorial majors both or Chicago or Milwaukee or Kansas City “For most players in independent worked at the L incoln Evening Journal or whatever it was, you really did not have baseball, [the league] may be their second newspaper during their junior years at the a lot of advance notice of where the World or third chance. Maybe they did not get university, but they don’t remember meet- Series would be played.” drafted out of college, or did get drafted ing each other there. “You know, the press boxes weren’t and got released by their major league Instead, it was Bob Snow, one of their big enough to handle, or to come close to team,” Wirz said. fellow students in an editing class, who got handle, the media. You always needed aux- Two years ago, Wirz started his own the two together over a cup of coffee. The iliary space for that. The media was begin- blog to promote his column. He writes rest is history. ning to grow,”Wirz said. brief updates of teams around the league Tillinghast, originally from Kansas, His time as the director of informa- for www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. started his college career taking business tion under Commissioners Kuhn and During 2008 spring training, Wirz blogged courses, he said. Stover, from Fairfield, Peter Ueberroth included challenges three times a week. Neb., said she went with English. The posed by the changing media. “I committed to blogging every pair’s paths wouldn’t cross until after “You needed to be sure that you were Monday, Wednesday and Friday about the Tillinghast discovered journalism in the scheduling more press conferences and independent players who were in major Navy and Stover gave up her “unrealistic, press availabilities to give the media more league spring training,” he said. romantic dream” of being a novelist, access,” Wirz said, “while at the same time Now, his column excerpts can be Stover said. controlling some of the privacy of the found across the Internet. Tillinghast said of his decision to pur- players.” From his newest blog, teams and fans sue journalism, “I couldn’t do anything After 16 years working in the big can buy and sell merchandise, collectors’ else.” leagues, Wirz created his own company in items and equipment. The online market- Tillinghast liked how all the students 1985. place, www.IndependentBaseballClassi- knew each other really well at the journal- Wirz & Associates, located in fieds.com, even helps those looking for a ism school, and he enjoyed writing for the Stratford, Conn., provided public rela- job in baseball. Daily Nebraskan back when it was known tions, marketing and consulting for sports “How many times have you said, ‘If as “The Rag,” he said. programs, media companies, baseball only I had a job in professional baseball’?” Stover, who began working at the leagues and teams. his Web site advertises. Lincoln Journal the summer after her Today, Wirz has downsized his firm Bob Wirz is one man who will never freshman year, said, “The combina- ■ and found his niche in writing a weekly have to ask that question again. tion of being able to go to school and >> 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 29 ALUMNI fyi continued from page 29 work in the profession” was her favorite Stover said she enjoys teaching media students English language reporting and part of her journalism school experience. law and ethics courses. She also teaches a editing. Stover and Tillinghast graduated from graduate communication law course and Tillinghast did reporting for the Navy UNL in 1966. They married in September public policy theory of mass communica- and at the Lincoln Journal, the Columbus 1968 upon completion of their master’s tion. Dispatch in Ohio and the Mercury News in degrees in journalism: Stover’s from In between going to school and teach- San Jose. Columbia University and Tillinghast’s ing, the couple did some reporting as well. Tillinghast is the graduate coordina- from Ohio State University. Stover started at the Lincoln Journal tor and Stover the curriculum coordinator After the two taught at Ohio State, doing feature stories and layout and design for the journalism school at San Jose State. Tillinghast’s mentor, Dr. William Hall, for the women’s section. In addition, they direct the school’s Dow who had been director of the Nebraska J “I couldn’t wait to get off the women’s Jones Newspaper Fund editing internship school when the couple were undergradu- section,” Stover said. program. ates, encouraged them to get their Ph.D.s She really wanted to do political Tillinghast said they don’t have any and become full-blown professors. Ohio reporting, and that’s what she eventually children or pets, “just undergraduate stu- State didn’t have a mass media program, so did. After working at the Lincoln Journal, dents.” they went to Michigan State University she was a general assignment reporter for They like to travel and go to the opera instead. the Omaha World-Herald. When the and ballet, Tillinghast said. The duo went Tillinghast earned his Ph.D. in 1975, paper’s political reporter needed a hand, to Barcelona for spring break in March. and the couple moved to California that Stover said she was all too happy to oblige. They live in the San Francisco Bay year to teach at San Jose State University. She later did political reporting for the area, 45 minutes from the ocean. Stover completed her dissertation and Associated Press in Ohio and served as “I like the weather better here than degree in 1976. bureau chief in Iowa for the AP’s state- Nebraska’s,”Tillinghast said.“But our foot- Tillinghast said he likes teaching house bureau in Des Moines. ball team isn’t as good as Nebraska’s.” because it’s a constantly changing field. Stover also was a Fulbright Scholar in ■ The 68-year-old has also seen a couple of China for three consecutive years, starting his students win Pulitzers, which he said in 1989. She spent a year in Hong Kong was a satisfying feeling. and two years in Beijing teaching Chinese

DIANA STOVER, UNL 1966 WILLIAM TILLINGHAST, UNL 1966 Gave up dream of being a novelist Discovered journalism in the Navy

Graduated with master’s degree in journalism from Graduated with master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University Ohio State University linghast and Diana Stover il liam T il courtesy W os courtesy Phot

30 SUMMER 2008 JLUMNI NEWS 33 K.C. journalist named The zoning operation he helped create has been widely regarded as the best in the country. Earlier in his career, he reor- ganized the newspaper’s features sections, editor of Journal Star building readership and winning awards for those sections. He also was editor of the Star’s centennial history in 1980, which was nomi- UNL grad plans to focus on local nated for a Pulitzer Prize, and in 2005 oversaw its 125th anniversary edition. content, multimedia opportunities “I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Michael again,” Maher said. “We were peers while I was at the Kansas By MATT OLBERDING City Star from ’95 to 2000, and I really LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR enjoyed working with him. He is a dedicated, professional journalist who will ichael Nelson, a make a difference for Lincoln and for the University of Journal Star.” Nebraska– Nelson has been active in charitable M Lincoln graduate and and journalistic organizations and public longtime journalist at service projects. He spent eight years as a the Kansas City Star, has been named edi- trustee of the Leukemia Society of Mid- tor of the Lincoln Journal Star. America and was a founding board mem- Nelson, 59, succeeds Kathleen ber of the Patriotism Foundation, which Rutledge, who left the paper in November. promotes voter registration in suburban He will begin his duties at the Journal Star Kansas City. on April 21. He is involved in alumni and journal- Nelson, who has spent his entire jour- ism activities at UNL, where he was recog- nalism career thus far at Kansas City news- tar nized with the Journalism Alumni Award papers, said he is excited to return to nal S of Excellence in 1996. He is now ending Nebraska. ur his 14th year on the publications board of

After growing up in southwest Iowa, Jo oln the Johnson County, Kan., College. he attended high school at Omaha Benson inc In 2004, Nelson was the inaugural and then attended UNL. winner of that college’s Headline Award “I have a deep affection for Nebraska,” for meritorious service to local journal- he said. “I have family there, and I follow L o courtesy ism. news there.” Phot Nelson said he hopes to continue his Because of that, Nelson said, he has MICHAEL NELSON community service in Lincoln after he gets learned that the Journal Star is a strong settled in his new job. newspaper with a top-notch staff. He is married to Christie Cater “I have a great deal of respect for the in a 24/7 news environment,” Maher said. Nelson, an Ogallala native and freelance talent in your newsroom. I think your “I know that he is the right leader to con- journalist. They have two daughters, newsroom is very, very good,” he said. tinue to drive progress for our news oper- Libby, a junior at Northwestern University, “Because I care about your paper, I ations and our company.” and Laura, a high school senior who will think I can offer good stewardship of it.” Nelson started his newspaper career attend the University of Southern Nelson said his goals for the paper are as a copy editor and sometimes reporter at California in the fall. a strong local news report with unique the now-defunct K ansas City Times. He Nelson jokingly noted that in becom- content, a strong breaking news report on became features editor at the Times and ing editor of the Journal Star, he will have JournalStar.com and niche products to since 1978 has held a variety of assistant to live up to the expectations created by serve a wide variety of readers’ interests. managing editor positions at the Star. his daughters, who are both editors of Journal Star Publisher John Maher In his current role as assistant manag- their school newspapers. emphasized Nelson’s role in bolstering ing editor for suburbs and zoning, Nelson “I have to prove myself worthy of my JournalStar.com’s breaking news report oversees news operations for suburban children,” he said. ■ and multimedia opportunities. areas of Kansas City in Missouri and In fact, JournalStar.com tested live Kansas. streaming video from outside Memorial He led the Star’s community news ini- This article, published in the Journal Stadium on Wednesday — 20 minutes tiative in the early 1990s, helping the news- Star March 27, is reprinted by permis- after Nelson was announced as editor. paper emerge as the dominant medium in sion. “Michael will assume responsibility Kansas City’s competitive and rapidly for a multimedia newsroom functioning growing suburbs. 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 31 ALUMNI fyi

By MEGHANN SCHENSEE

odd Baer has made the most of the 11 years since he graduated from the J school. T He’s reported on U.S. politi- cians and local news, but he’s also reported in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia for various local TV stations and networks. He covered the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for CNN and ABC News Radio last December and a sui- cide bomb attack for both networks a few weeks later. In addition to his freelance correspondent work, he has trained TV journalists all over the world and has helped launch several English language news channels. He’s even had a ruptured appendix that forced him to spend 10 days in a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. It was his desire for adventure that led him abroad — and has kept him there. “You have to want the excitement and edginess of a story, and eventually it becomes addicting,” Baer said. Baer, 34, was born in Rotterdam, Holland. His father was in the military, and his mother was a teacher. They moved to New York where he spent most of his childhood, then to Los Angeles where Baer went to high school. Then he followed in the footsteps of his only sibling, his older brother, and attended college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where he was on the wrestling team. “Todd met all demands of school and wrestling; he gave 110 percent on both sides of the equation,” said Rick Alloway, a broadcasting faculty member who was one of Baer’s teachers. “You can see his com-

petitive nature still drives him. I admire his Prince Teresa o by

willingness to dive into any story given to Phot him.” This February was Baer’s first visit back to Lincoln since he graduated. In 19977, like many new graduates, “I ENVISIONING ADVENTURE had the urge to leave right away,”Baer said. Baer started out as a desk assistant in New York for ABC News Radio where he helped cover the death of Princess Diana for ABC News, London. He also traveled to Todd Baer’s perseverance gets him Teheran, Iran, to cover the U.S. national wrestling team at the world champi- onships in 1998. It was just the second ath- a shot at international journalism letic exchange between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. covered Gov. George Bush and the Texas Minneapolis, Minn., where he was a police He then worked for more than two National Guard during its tour of duty in beat reporter for five years at ABC affiliate years at News 8 in Austin, Texas, where he Bosnia. Baer’s next job was in KSTP-TV. 32 SUMMER 2008 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 “I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. “As a result, I received a lot of e-mails pital stay was less than $1,000. Here at I do a little bit of everything,” Baer said and phone messages from some top net- home it would have cost 30, 40 or 50 times referring to his radio and television broad- work news executives whom I’d long more.” casting experience. admired but never been able to get in Baer’s other international work has But when the opportunity came to touch with. Since I was one of the few included helping to assemble and train a take his skills back to an international American broadcast journalists in staff for a CNN news bureau and ABC venue, Baer jumped at the chance. In 2007 Pakistan, I think they wanted to make sure Radio in Pakistan. He was also sent to Baer took a leave of absence from KSTP- I would be on their team if their informa- Kenya by K24TV, Kenya Broadcasting TV to work for DAWN News, Pakistan’s tion panned out.” Company, for a similar role in setting up most widely circulated English language The duration of the GEO-TV job was an English-language station and training newspaper, to set up the first English- 10 weeks, but during week nine Baer felt staff members. speaking television channel in Pakistan. fatigued and was looking forward to a long “It was my first time to Africa. There The job lasted six weeks — and it was a break. He woke up on a Monday morning are no words to describe international challenge. with severe pain in his stomach. travel. Kenya had the most beautiful peo- “International reporting is a little “I didn’t know what was happening ple and scenery I have ever seen. You are trickier. If you don’t know the language it inside my body. As a former wrestler I have just hit with a whole new perspective,” is easy to get lost in translation. I would get experienced significant pain but never Baer said. 10 variations of the truth in Pakistan. You anything like this,” he said. One highlight of his trip to Kenya was have to be careful about whom you trust,” Baer said he continued to work for the the opportunity to interview the Kenyan Baer said. next three days, hoping the pain would go grandmother of U.S. presidential candi- After the DAWN News job, Baer away, but it only got worse. On Thursday date Barack Obama. But Baer noted that it returned to the Minneapolis police beat, he was rushed to the Agha Khan University is stories from ordinary people he remem- but he was hooked on the excitement, dan- Hospital in Karachi; doctors prepared him bers most. Stories about political and ger and edginess of Pakistan, which he for emergency surgery. famous figures rarely contain the element calls the United States’ most important ally “This was scary. My two armed secu- of surprise, he said. on terror. He was offered a new contract by rity guards carried me into the ER,” he During his visit to UNL, Baer told a KSTP and was about to sign when the said. “There are a lot of ways to die in class of journalism students that making phone rang. Karachi. Bomb blast, automatic gunfire, connections is what journalism is all Another Pakistani network, GEO-TV, kidnapping, but here I was lying in the ER about. offered him a job to set up its English lan- in shock, and it was an infection in my “I learned from the late NBC News guage channel in Karachi. GEO-TV is own body that nearly killed me.” correspondent David Bloom to never leave widely considered Pakistan’s number one Baer begged the doctors for pain med- a crowded room without getting every- Erdu language TV network. Baer said he ication, and they finally gave him some one’s cell phone number; you never know just couldn’t resist the opportunity to after making sure the problem was his when you will need it.” return to Pakistan. appendix. They wheeled him into the Dani Kort, senior textile, clothing and “A lot of people thought I was crazy to operating room, and he was on the table, design/journalism major said,“He stressed leave a full-time reporting job at one of the being prepped for surgery, when he to our class how important it is to get to best local TV stations in the country for a received what he calls the best news of his know your sources. He also said how cru- short-term consulting job, but my dream life. cial it is to read as much as you can.” was always to be a foreign correspondent, “I was a bit out of it but still scared out Baer said he never likes to be one of and this was my chance to get out there of my mind. The anesthesiologist was those “pushy” reporters; it is best to always and see if I had what it took.” about to put me under when out of carry yourself with class. Baer immediately contacted every nowhere the hospital’s chief general sur- Baer also passed on what he called the network news executive he knew from geon intervened. He said it was too dan- best advice he was ever given about report- ABC News to CNN to Al-Jazeera gerous to operate. Instead, he directed staff ing. He heard it from “Good Morning International to let them know he’d be in to administer powerful antibiotics and America” host Robin Roberts, who spoke Karachi and available for freelance work. shrink the appendix — which he later at an academic awards dinner for UNL At the time, there was a lot going on in learned had swollen to the size of cell athletes when Baer was in school. Pakistan. In March of 2007, President phone — and then perform surgery. “Always overestimate your abilities. Musharaff was starting to lose his grip on Ultimately, Baer was able to recover You have nothing to lose. Envision yourself power, and there was a lot of talk in U.S. enough to return to the U.S. for the sur- there, and perseverance will get you network newsrooms about Osama bin gery, but his stay in the Karachi hospital there.”xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx■ Laden and the chance that he may be cap- was not as bad as he might have imagined tured in Pakistan or nearby Afghanistan. it would be. Watch Baer’s report on the Bhutto assassi- “I don’t know where the U.S. net- “Much to my surprise, the doctors nation here:xhttp://www.youtube.com/ works were getting their information,” were excellent, and the hospital was clean- watch?v=mt47V34kyQ0 Baer said, “but it seems to me they had er and nicer than any U.S. hospital I have Watch his interview with Obama’s reliable sources telling them to expect a ever been in,” he said. “The treatment was grandmother here: http://www.youtube. development with Osama bin Laden. a lot cheaper, too. I think my 10-day hos- com/watch?v=BKG-6hqKaZY 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 ALUMNI fyi

JAMES VALENTINE

Photo courtesy Maroon 5

It’s Valentine’s day — are not such a surprise. He started playing piano at 8 and picked up guitar a few years later, signing himself up for lessons and practicing obsessively. Former J school student James Valentine loves “In fact, it was like, ‘James, put your guitar away. It’s time to go to bed,’” his his guitar, loves his job with Maroon 5 mother said. Indeed, his love for the instrument is a constant that has transcended the many By KARA BROWN turns in Valentine’s life. “I’m still just kind of a nerd who’s ames Valentine’s brothers and “Actually, no one’s really laughing obsessed with guitar and music,” he said. sisters sometimes tease him for anymore.” Valentine used his guitar skills, espe- leaving the University of Eight years after the 29-year-old cially a niche in jazz, to enmesh himself in J Nebraska–Lincoln halfway Lincoln native relocated to Los Angeles, he the Lincoln music scene early on. He through his senior year. is, as his friends say, living the dream as a played in the grunge rock band Montag in However, for the siblings — all four of guitarist for the band Maroon 5. junior high, the more jazz-oriented Kid whom are college graduates — the jokes “It was literally my wildest dream,” he Quarkstar through high school, and are wearing thin. said. Square in college, the band with whom he “His platinum (records) and But for those who knew him back eventually moved to L.A. Grammies are on the wall next to their when, his growing accomplishments — “At that point, I was so involved in diplomas,” said his mother, Shauna playing for sold-out crowds of thousands, that little world we’d created in Lincoln,” Valentine. selling millions of CDs, traveling the world he said, that UNL was the only option for

34 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 him. band Kara’s Flowers that they needed a of such popularity, this cosmopolitan rock He did make a choice to major in guitarist, Valentine changed bands, star’s deep Midwestern roots are undeni- advertising instead of music, though. becoming a member of what would even- able. “It was interesting that he kept turn- tually become Maroon 5. Not only does he sport a signature red ing down music scholarships,” his mother He did so just as the band was signing Nebraska T-shirt from time to time, but said. “I think he sort of wanted to broaden with indie label Octone Records, “a new his attitude is less “rock star” and more just himself. He always wanted to just enjoy sort of experiment in the music business,” plain nice. music.” he said. The band would “incubate” at And he has always found ways to show But advertising was not a wasted Octone for a while, and when it was ready, it; it was obvious even when he was in col- endeavor, Valentine said. Its principal it would transfer to major label J Records. lege, Stacy James said. virtue was that it was not music — some- Valentine and his band mates spent “There’s a demeanor about him that’s thing that had all but consumed the next year couch-diving for quarters, solid, kind and gentle,” she said. “I’m sure Valentine’s life since high school, when he sleeping in their tour van and working odd he’s very well grounded, and that will take was invited to join UNL’s jazz band. It also jobs for cash. For Valentine, that meant him a long way.” allowed the artist to express himself in working at the copy store at UCLA. Shauna Valentine agrees that her son another medium. He lived in a house with a bunch of hasn’t changed despite the glare of the “Creativity is creativity,” Valentine other musicians, in a small room with few spotlight. said. possessions. “He’s still the same person he used to Stacy James, a professor at UNL, “It was a really stark existence,” his be,” she said. “He comes home, and he’s remembers Valentine in her Advertising mother said. just James, just Uncle James.” 333 classes. She agrees that advertising But even though Valentine was dirt And remembering where he came really seemed to fit his nature. poor, he was having the time of his life — from is part of his character. “It’s interesting to me how the creative writing furiously, touring and mixing with “It was one of the most rewarding energy of a person can come out in many bands like Rilo Kiley, Rooney and nights in my career as a teacher when he ways — the computer, the pen, an instru- Phantom Planet. invited me, along with three others, to join ment,” she said. “I think there’s a very “That’s when I thought I had found Maroon 5 on stage for a tune at Pershing,” interesting inner creative soul in James, what I wanted,” he said. Krueger said. and he really made that work for him.” All that work paid off: Maroon 5’s first That experience, coupled with a sur- Despite Valentine’s academic success record, “Songs About Jane,” sold 4.6 mil- prise visit to Southeast’s band class, truly in the journalism college, the path he lion copies after its 2002 release through impressed Krueger. chose to follow was music. And that jour- Interscope records. “Both of these acts showed a sense of ney wasn’t simple or fast. And that success has meant good generosity and pride in where he came When Valentine was still a student at things for the band members. They now from that I thought was great to see,” Lincoln Southeast High School, his band have room to pursue individual endeavors, Krueger said. teacher Bob Krueger gave him some advice and the record label afforded them more Valentine’s legacy lives on in Lincoln about the music industry — advice that creative say during the making of their sec- and at UNL: Stacy James always makes would stick. ond album, “It Won’t Be Soon Before sure her students know about her former- “He (Valentine) especially remem- Long.” student-turned-Grammy-winning rock bered the idea that a lot of the business has “We respect their opinions, but we get star. to do with being in the right place at the to do what we want to do,”Valentine said. When they’re working on advertising right time and that a musician must be But, as his mother said, “Everything’s projects and a Maroon 5 song comes on, prepared musically and professionally to a tradeoff.” she tells them — even if they know — that take advantage of opportunities when they Now Valentine is constantly touring James Valentine went to school here. occur, no matter what they happen to be,” the world with Maroon 5. The band’s been And that’s what makes it so cool. Krueger said. to Europe multiple times and just got back “It’s their culture; it’s the students’ So when Valentine’s Lincoln band from a trip to East Asia. But all that jet set- world,”she said. “They can understand the Square won a $25,000 national Battle of ting can mean extreme exhaustion and music.” the Bands competition sponsored by gui- time away from what he really wants to do. As for those last 17 hours still missing tar entrepreneur Ernie Ball, Valentine “Sometimes I wish I were back in the on Valentine’s transcript, the ones his knew it was the right time. Band members studio and the time spent on the road was brothers and sisters like to tease him for? jumped at the opportunity to relocate to more balanced,” he said. Once he finds time between recording, L.A. and pursue their ambitions full time. To improve this balance, Valentine has surfing and rocking out in front of thou- But even with the networking and taken up jogging most mornings and even sands, he plans to come back and complete opportunities the contest provided, the fits in snowboarding and surfing when he them. money and patience of the band members can. “I’m serious. I’ll finish my degree was soon running out. “Jogging’s a great way to see all these someday,” he said. “It was a real struggle,” he said. random cities. It’s really hard to stay “I have no idea when, but I’m going to So when Valentine learned from some healthy on tour,” he said. do it.” ■ of his friends in the Los Angeles-based But despite the benefits and pressures

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 35 ALUMNI fyi Bringing the message home

Natalie Hahn builds on her work abroad to help Nebraska children expand their world from here at home

By DANI KORT

ot many UNL J school Her international inter- grads hold the title of est began when she was a 4-H “chief” of anything. But international farm youth N Natalie Hahn is an African exchange student in New chief in two nations, Zealand and Japan at age 21. Malawi and Nigeria. After living in both countries, She didn’t seize the titles in military or she was determined to work political coups. Instead, the nations internationally. bestowed the honorary rank on her in Her first international ahn gratitude for the work she did there and position was as the Youth elsewhere with the United Nations for Program Officer for the Food nearly 40 years, empowering women and and Agriculture Organization benefiting children. of the United Nations in “Some people accomplish a lot 1970. She was headquartered H Natalie o courtesy because they have a sense that they can in Rome but had assignments Phot make a difference — and they do,” said in Eastern and Southern NATALIE HAHN Will Norton Jr., dean of the journalism Africa — Kenya, Ethiopia, college at the University of Tanzania, Uganda, Swaziland, crops and processing techniques for cassa- Nebraska–Lincoln. “She’s that type of per- Lesotho and Botswana — during that va — an edible root that is like a potato son,” period. Her long-term assignments in when boiled — as well as yams and soy- Hahn grew up in Polk, Neb. Her Africa were in Nigeria, where she was with beans to rural Nigerian women. Her most mother, Grayce Hahn Burney, was a jour- the International Institute for Tropical successful fieldwork was the introduction nalist and active in the Nebraska Press Agriculture, and Malawi, where she was of soybeans, an entirely new crop for Women association. Her father, Lloyd the UNICEF representative. Nigerians in the early 1980s. Hahn, was a farmer, and her stepfather, “I like her so much because she tries Hahn served as the coordinator for Dwight Burney, was elected to the to change people’s lives,” said Florence women’s economic advancement from Unicameral in 1945 and served as lieu- Chenoweth, an international visiting 1987 to 1993 at the United Nations tenant governor from 1957 to 1965 and as scholar at the University of Wisconsin- International Fund for Agricultural governor from 1960-61. Madison and former minister of agricul- Development in Rome. The program Hahn graduated from UNL in 1967 ture in Liberia. “She’s not just a dreamer. helped to implement loans that empower with a dual degree in journalism and home She sees the big picture and goes in to women’s agricultural projects. She also economics. make a difference. She sees the importance served as the UNICEF representative to She went on to get a master’s degree in of connecting people and that we have to Malawi from 1993 to1997. journalism from Ohio State University and think of people globally,” Most recently she helped establish a master’s in public administration and From 1984 to 1989, while she was at corporate support for the UN Millennium doctorate in educational administration, the International Institute for Tropical Development Goals as the senior private planning and social policy from Harvard Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria, Hahn sector adviser for the United Nations Fund University. assisted in introducing improved food for International Partnerships.

36 SUMMER 2008 J ALMNI NEWS 33 But her work on behalf of those in they leave impressed with the hospitality need has gone beyond her official career. ‘[Hahn] sees the big and challenges of farming, as well as the In 2006, she and her friend Florence picture and goes in to determination to visit again,” she said. Chenoweth decided to launch a fundrais- Some of the trips’ themes have including campaign to buy books to be sent to make a difference. She ed women’s leadership and agricultural children in Liberia. They collaborated with opportunities for Nebraska as well as a Books for Africa, a Minneapolis nonprofit sees the importance of visit to the Ponca Inter-Tribal Council. organization that ships donated textbooks Hahn encourages international connec- to Africa. Their campaign was a major suc- connecting people and tions for the UNL and has helped form cess, and 1.4 million books later, the pro- partnerships between the American gram Hahn and Chenoweth founded is that we have to think University of Central Asia and the now the largest contributor to Books for University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Africa. of people globally. University of Nebraska at Kearney. For the past 14 years, she has cared for Besides that, Hahn recently taught a six Malawian orphans. They are siblings course at the Center for Global Affairs, FLORENCE CHENOWITH whose parents “were dear friends who died UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, VISITING SCHOLAR New York University, on women’s global of AIDS.,” Hahn said. Thanks to her con- ’ economic empowerment. And she was the nections with the Malawian family, “I now founder of the Harvard MIT Women and have seven grandchildren,” she said. International Development Group. Throughout Hahn’s UN career and discuss world affairs, hear presentations “Here is someone bringing people her time abroad, Hahn’s mother would say about integrating international studies from outside and giving them the oppor- to her, into the curriculum and obtain informa- tunity to travel. Certainly we’ll be afraid of “I love your work in Africa, but what tion about other countries. Seven out- immigrants if we don’t know where they are you doing for Nebraska?” Hahn could- standing teachers have been awarded come from. Who we’re around determines n’t shake her mother’s question. Kenneth Morrison Fellowships, named for what we consider normal. And normal is She recalled visiting Nebraska class- a benefactor from Hastings, for interna- more than what is typical in rural rooms and being amazed by the limited tional educational travel during the sum- Nebraska,” Norton said. knowledge of basic world geography and mer. Teachers have traveled to Cambodia, Hahn’s work has been recognized with the difficulty students had identifying even Thailand, Mexico and Cuba. the Rotary Achievement Award from the five of the 54 countries in Africa. She con- Two students from the UNL College New York Rotary Club. In addition, UNL cluded that the best contribution she could of Education and Human Sciences trav- awarded Hahn an honorary doctorate of make to her home state would be to work eled to China at the end of May with humane letters in 2000, while the College with teachers to provide resources for Morrison Fellowships facilitated by the of Education and Human Sciences has understanding other cultures. So she Malaika Foundation. The students will be established the Dr. Natalie Hahn founded The Malaika Foundation. in China for almost two weeks as part of International Award. The word malaika means “my angel” the UNL Study Abroad program’s Child, Hahn now spends about two-thirds of in Swahili, a language of East Africa, espe- Youth and Family studies. her time in New York City and is engaged cially Kenya. The purpose of the founda- Recently, Hahn assisted in organizing to Dr. Martin Fox, a cardiologist affiliated tion is to strengthen global dimensions in the Malaika Power of One Award for with New York University. The rest of the Nebraska schools. Midland Community Service. The awards time, she is in Nebraska to assist with the Chenoweth said, “I was not surprised will go to students at Midland College, Malaika Foundation and spend time at her when she started an organization like the Fremont, who assist with community serv- home in Central City. She and her sister, Malaika Foundation. That’s the type of ice projects in Fremont and the surround- Marilyn Pierpont, still maintain the family person she is. She wants to make sure back ing areas. farm at Polk, Neb. But she has left her home she does things to benefit people. Hahn is proud of the foundation’s mark on nations half a world away. You need to benefit people where you are accomplishments in “providing an inter- The focus of her work with the United from first, and then you can help others.” national lens to Nebraska youth and Nations was always to benefit women and The University of Nebraska at inspiring teachers to bring a global focus children by helping to improve education, Kearney and the Nebraska Department of to their classrooms.” The Malaika creating opportunities for women in new Education recently hosted the foundation’s Foundation has lent an African art collec- crops and services and providing financial fourth symposium on the topic “Bringing tion to the UNL College of Education and assistance through savings and micro cred- the World to Your Classroom.” Previous Human Sciences; it is on display in both it. symposia have been held at Doane City and East Campus buildings. “The thrill of the work was knowing College, the Mahoney Center and at UNK. The exposure to new cultures runs that you had made a difference,” she said. During the program’s four years, 300 both ways, though. Hahn often brings UN Chenoweth said, “Wherever she has Nebraska teachers have participated in the diplomats or native New Yorkers to visit worked, she has left some sort of legacy. symposia. Nebraska. Being made a chief is a huge thing for a These seminars offer teachers the “In almost all cases, it’s the first time woman. She must have made a huge opportunity to meet distinguished guests, the guests have visited the Midwest, and impact where she was.” ■

J ALUMNI NEWS 37 ALUMNI fyi

Omaha, where he worked in That has changed now that the promotions and produc- he is working for a larger televi- The job is right tion departments. He also did sion station in southwest an internship at a corporate Florida. He now has his own communications company. cameraman, but that means he But he never had an has to work as a team. Freeman happy to be reporting in Florida internship on the news side of “As a one man band, you journalism, and that has have a vision and that’s fine By CYNTHIA MCCALL inspired his advice to other because you’ll see it through,” young journalists. he said. “But now, you work oo bad Drew Carey “Do as many internships with your photographer as well, beat Adam Freeman as you can,” he said. “I can’t and you have to communicate.” to his dream job. emphasize that enough. Kids Since Freeman began as a “I originally wanted graduate and think they want to Collier County reporter, he has T be a reporter, and five years covered the county’s most to be a game show host,” said Freeman, a television later, they aren’t doing what important events of the day. reporter for NBC 2 in Naples, they thought they would be.” “I like the fact that you get Fla.“I wanted to be Bob Barker,” Freeman credits broadcast- to do a lot of different things,” who was host of “The Price is ing lecturer Trina Creighton he said. “But you have to be up Right” for nearly 35 years until with keeping him on track and to speed on a lot of different advising him on his first broad- things.” he retired and was replaced by NBC2/Naples,o courtesy Fla. casting job. Just months before Freeman said he reads 10 to

Drew Carey in 2007. “And then Phot I realized that is not an easy gig ADAM FREEMAN his college graduation, Freeman 12 newspapers each day and to get. And then I wanted to be didn’t have any post-college finds himself occasionally on ESPN. Again, I realized it’s has already done his share of plans. Creighton advised him to watching CNN in the evenings. not an easy gig to get.” unique stories. apply for a reporter position at He still reads the Omaha World- So the 25-year-old isn’t giv- Since he began covering the television station in Herald and the Lincoln Journal ing away cars or commenting Collier County, Fla., which Hastings. Star t o keep up with Nebraska on football on TV, but he hasn’t includes the city of Naples, he “I practically had to make news. done too badly. He has inter- has done a story on illegal alli- him do it,” said Creighton, who Freeman credits his jour- viewed Nebraska notables gator hunting, wild peacocks is a UNL broadcasting lecturer nalism success to the professors including Sens. Chuck Hagel that were on the loose in a and had Freeman in two of her at UNL’s College of Journalism and Ben Nelson, Gov. Dave neighborhood, a man who was classes. “He did it on his own, and Mass Communications. Heineman and Tom Osborne, stung by a stingray and a pro- but I really had to get on him “You have professors like former Husker football coach posed smoking ban on the city’s and encourage him to do it.” Rick Alloway and Trina and congressman and now the beaches. Creighton said she thought Creighton who have been in the University of Nebraska– He has also taken an air- Freeman would get a lot of business recently. They are very Lincoln’s athletic director. boat tour through the experience and do well there. good at preparing the students “It was an honor to inter- Everglades with senators from “I really didn’t apply or for the real world.” view Osborne,” Freeman said. California and Florida. consider anywhere else,” Creighton said Freeman “I’ve looked up to him for “Unless you are a journal- Freeman said. “I credit Trina a has been successful in his years.” ist, you don’t get to do things lot for my job in Hastings broadcasting career because he Freeman also interviewed like that,” Freeman said. because she pushed me to do is talented. Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of Before taking the job in that.” “Adam is just such a good New York City, who was seeking Florida, Freeman worked for Freeman spent two years in kid,” Creighton said. “There is the Republican presidential KHAS-TV in Hastings, where Hastings where he did some something about him on cam- nomination at the time and was he covered Husker football and sports reporting and anchoring era, and he is such a nice guy off campaigning in Florida in got the opportunity to watch a as well as some photography. camera. He calls me whenever January, right before the state’s few games from the sidelines. But his primary responsibilities something exciting happens in primary. “It was like a dream,” were news reporting and his life.” “It’s weird to interview Freeman said. “And you get to anchoring. Although Freeman said he someone like that because see the game from a whole dif- “Anybody that’s looking to intends to move up the ladder you’ve seen them on TV so ferent perspective.” get on air should spend time at and out of Naples one day, he is many times,” Freeman said. Freeman graduated from a smaller station,” he said. “It in no hurry. “When you’re watching TV, you Millard North High School in makes you so much stronger as “I definitely like it here,” don’t think about what it would 2001 and decided to attend a reporter.” Freeman said.“I’m in no rush to be like to interview them.” UNL because it was close to Because the Hastings sta- move on. I’m more into devel- Freeman graduated from home and had a good journal- tion was so small, Freeman was oping and preparing my abili- UNL in May 2005, and ism college. what he called “a one man ties.” although he has been out of col- During his college years, he band.” He was his own camera- Drew Carey’s job is safe for ■ lege only three years, he said he did an internship at WOWT in man and his own video editor. now. 38 SUMMER 2008 J ALUNI NEWS 33 Eager for ness and his ambition that led him to his current position at Wieden & Kennedy. the day, “I wanted to work here for a long time,” Jensen said. “I grew up loving ads for eager to Nike. These guys have been doing ads for Nike since they started. I wanted to be at the learn place that had done work that had kind of inspired me all my life.” Caleb Jensen takes his Marco Kaye, a fellow skills to the West Coast copywriter at Wieden & Kennedy, said about Jensen, By SARA MCCUE “I’m really inspired by him because of the way that he goes about every project as an Many UNL students dread the opportunity.” sound of their alarm clocks. Kaye, who has been work- n

They have to pull themselves nse ing for the advertising agency out of bed and force them- for almost a year, noted that selves to get ready for the day. Jensen is committed to pro- They are groggy and disorient- ducing great work. “Caleb’s ed, and the last thing they want definitely got that real dedica- to think about is going to class. Je Caleb o courtesy tion to the process of writing,”

Hundreds of miles away in Phot Kaye said of Jensen, mention- Portland, Ore., Caleb Jensen, a CALEB JENSEN ing that this dedication is what 2001 UNL graduate, has a separates “good creative copy- much different attitude in the pared Jensen for this. “I class at UNL. Runge challenges writers from not-so-good early morning. Jensen noted walked out of UNL knowing his students’ creativity. ones.” he often wakes up to the how to be ready to learn,” “There are some people Jensen believes the best thought of finishing a good Jensen said of the preparation who are just creative,” Runge way to have success in advertis- project he is working on in the he received for his career in said. “They’ve got what it ing is to be informed but orig- office of advertising agency advertising. This knowledge, takes. There’s another group inal. He emphasized the Wieden & Kennedy. along with inspiration from of people who have the ability importance of “knowing what “I can look forward to several advertising professors to be creative. They need to people are doing in advertising coming to work every day,” he who were excited about teach- have the door opened.” ... but not copying it.” In short, said. ing, helped him as he entered While teaching this he said, “Knowing what’s out Jensen displays a great the workforce. course, he often searches for there and doing your own attitude about his career now, Fresh out of the advertis- possible interns, and Jensen thing” is the best advice he can but he wasn’t always so sure ing sequence at UNL, Jensen was one the interns Runge give to students who want to about his future. He admits began working at ArchRival, an chose to work at ArchRival. pursue a career in the field of that advertising wasn’t his advertising agency in Lincoln. Runge said he knows interns advertising. original major. Like many stu- This agency focuses on youth- won’t have lots of experience, Jensen believes every indi- dents at the University of oriented advertising, working but said the firm tries “to find vidual is capable of having a Nebraska-Lincoln, he started with clients such as Red Bull people who just fit — problem successful career. “You can off with a different plan. North America and the A&E solvers, thinkers, funny people make it whatever you want. Jensen began his college career cable network. ArchRival who can add to the culture. Look forward to your career. as an architecture major. But strives to understand the That’s a big part of what we do Have fun,” he said. with a nudge from his father, younger audience and to for our clients.” His former employer, Greg Jensen, director of devel- search for new ways to adver- Jensen was a student who Runge, offered the same opment at the NU Foundation, tise to them. Because its target displayed all the qualities advice. “Find your passion. If he decided to give advertising a audience is young, the agency Runge was looking for in an you love what you do, you’ll be try. is always delighted to hire intern. “He’s also really clever. successful.” Jensen spoke highly of his young employees. Ready for anything … always Runge believes that Jensen experiences at the J school. He Clint! Runge, creative willing to take on a challenge. has a bright future ahead of said many advertising agencies director and co-partner at He always stepped up to the him. “This internship here was want lots of different skills in ArchRival, also teaches an plate,” Runge said of Jensen. just one step on the path,” their employees, and UNL pre- advanced creative advertising It was Jensen’s prepared- Runge said. ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 39 ALUMNI fyi Fairbury to Final 4 to Beijing

tened to the games because I liked the Lunch with Kevin Kugler games. Talk about your first job out of college. By TOM SHATEL I don’t put it on my resume, but I worked for six weeks at a radio station in Fairbury, Neb. Took me seven months to get the job, s he leaves for his first Final Four assignment too. So I worked there for six weeks, didn’t today, Kevin Kugler admits he’s a bit nervous. feel comfortable for a variety of reasons, and took over as sports director at the After all, when he calls the national championship radio station in York, Neb. I remember game on Monday night, it won’t be for the local when I left the station in Fairbury, the gen- A eral manager called me in and he was livid crew down in Dundee. His voice will be heard that I was leaving. He said it was a mistake from baseline to baseline in the United States.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I would regret for the rest of my life. He Then again, Kugler should be getting used to this stage. was wrong. Our friendly neighborhood radio sports talk guy (1620 the Then where? Zone) is moving up the national ladder two pegs at a time. For I worked for the Omaha Racers. Best expe- two years, Kugler has served as Westwood One radio’s “game of rience of my life. The Racers was the most fun job I’ve ever had, but I don’t know if I the week” voice for college football and basketball. This August, would want to do it again. We had a real he will join Westwood One’s team in Beijing for the Summer young front office. I was director of public Olympics, where he’ll call the basketball games. relations and broadcasting, which is the fanciest title I’ve ever had. Not bad for a kid from Lincoln who wanted to be a sports I’m 24 years old, I’m a couple years agent and who lasted just six weeks in his first job, at a radio sta- out of college and I was like, “Wow, I’m in tion in Fairbury, Neb. the CBA.” It was the greatest job I’ve ever had. We’d fly to West Palm Beach and then We met on Wednesday at the Dundee Dell. Yes,there is some to Hartford and back to Omaha. It was irony in that KFAB was just across the street. great. It was awesome. You did a little bit of everything around here How do you feel about this weekend? Were you like every other sportscaster in before “Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” right? What do you expect? this state, growing up wanting to be Lyell When the Racers folded in 1997, I actually Bremser? I don’t know what to expect. I expect a got married the next week. Oops. I free- grand event. I expect to have fun. I expect I graduated from UNL in 1994 in journal- lanced for a few years, doing UNO foot- ism. But I started as a business major. I was to be overwhelmed at times. This is the ball, UNO basketball, Nebraska women’s going to be a sports agent. I didn’t like the biggest game I’ve ever called. I have to treat basketball, did a little of everything I atmosphere there in business school. It it different because it’s a different event could. Then in September of 2000, Neil wasn’t for me. My mom had always than any I’ve covered. Sorry, Omaha. This Nelkin (station manager of KOZN) called is bigger than the College World Series encouraged me to go into broadcasting, because she’s smarter than me. She and wanted to know if I would do “Unsportsmanlike Conduct.” It will be How did you get hooked up with remembered I would always say things eight years ago this September. Westwood One? during games that the broadcasters would say, sometimes before they would say it. We at 1620 started producing the CWS Was that a shock to the system? When I was going through a time where I preliminary games several years ago. didn’t know what I was going to do, she I didn’t have to offer a lot of opinions as a Westwood One owned the rights, but they said, “Why don’t you go into broadcast- play-by-play guy. In talk radio, you have to would not come in until the championship ing?” Mom knows best. do a lot of opinions. They are two totally series. As part of a deal, they agreed to have I grew up in Lincoln a big Husker fan. different jobs. Being good at one doesn’t one of the 1620 people on the sidelines for But I didn’t grow up listening to games necessarily mean you’re good at another. the championship series. That’s how I got thinking “I want to be like them one day.” I’m a much better play-by-play guy than I started with them. They liked my work. We When I was 9, I wanted to be a weather- ever will be a talk show host just because kept in touch. I was very fortunate. man. I wanted to be an astronaut. I lis- that’s what I started out to do. But I had to

40 SUMMER 2008 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 learn how to express an opinion, and that Because Pederson is gone? There was a helplessness for a lot of people was not easy to learn. You can read into it what you want. as they watched what was happening to their program. It was a very good time to Play-by-play men usually play it straight. You were also really hard on Jim Rose. The chipmunk voiceover of Rose’s Husker be doing a talk show. People needed a place You have a pretty sharp edge on your talk to vent, to discuss what the answers might show. Is that hard to balance? Is it broadcasts was funny, but it could also be. forced? be construed as mean. Why did you do that? I have never been given any instruction to Some people say talk radio wouldn’t last. be a certain way. The show evolved. It’s The stuff we do on the radio is all in good What do you see as its future? fun. And I’ve never had a conversation changed. It’s not as easy as sitting down It’s not going away. It’s a format that is with Jim about anything we do. He has and talking sports for four hours, which I very good in a local market. The options never once called me about anything we thought it was when I started. It’s difficult are limited. You can go to a message board, do. to marry sports talk with play-by-play. So go to a bar or turn on a talk show. People I’m trying to think of how it started. far, so good. But talk to me in five years. will always look for local information. We don’t have the rights to air the play-by- They can’t get that from their satellite or What about Steve Pederson? Didn’t he play, do the coaches, so we took it upon their iPod. have something to do with you getting ourselves to make our own audio of these It will continue to evolve, and it’s a rel- taken off of Husker volleyball and base- things. We had a fake Bill Callahan, and a atively new craft. I think it will stay rele- ball games several years ago because of fake Barry Collier, fake Doc Sadler. We vant. There’s a fan base now, a group of critical comments you made on the talk didn’t have the highlights of the play-by- people, a generation learning about talk show? play, so we decided to do our own and it just kind of evolved from there. radio, having a chance to voice their opin- There was never a confrontation between ion. We all have an opinion, and we all Steve Pederson and myself. The only inter- want to voice it immediately. actions we had were cordial. We’re certainly not friends. I doubt Christmas cards are What is the best game you ever worked? coming anytime soon. He made some Last year’s Auburn-Florida football game decisions he felt he had to make. ranks right up there. And going to the The perception was that he had a hit Ohio State-Michigan game last year is one list on his wall. Gary Sharp. John Bishop. I will never forget. It wasn’t a great game, Kevin Kugler. I don’t believe that was the 14-3, but it was so electric. Those are the case. I believe that Steve Pederson was very kinds of games that stand out to me. interested in controlling every aspect of the product. And you had someone who A lot of folks think a local guy who is was doing a show that was not part of the doing national radio should be the product. And I can’t censor what I say on Nebraska football radio man. Your the radio show. I had to say the things I thoughts? believed. I’m not going to lie to the audi- I love what I’m doing. It’s a great job. And ence just so I can keep doing a volleyball by the way, they (NU) have a great guy game. o (Greg Sharpe) doing it. He’s a terrific play- hot I don’t know that he did it. I don’t by-play guy. I think Nebraska fans are real- think Steve picked up a phone and said ly going to love Greg. But it was never the “Get rid of this guy.” I don’t think Steve goal for me. appreciated or understood someone who file p CoJMC I always liked the idea of traveling did Nebraska games who had a talk show KEVIN KUGLER around and doing different teams and dif- that was at times critical. The two jobs in ferent games. I had done one team before, his mind didn’t interact particularly well. and it was a positive experience, but there’s Did you ever ask why you were taken off Is there a grudge between you and Rose? also something fun for me to go to all these those broadcasts? Any personal history? different places and see these different Oh, no, I don’t have any grudge against games. Maybe one day, that one team thing No. I never once had a conversation from will be there for me. But right now I kind Jim. someone in the athletic department who of want to see where this takes me. It may said, “We had a real issue with what you Really? be nowhere, I don’t know. But I don’t real- said.” I was never really curious. I had a No. Jim and I are not friends, but there are ly have a 10-year plan. Right now I’m just pretty good idea what happened. They on this amazing ride that a Nebraska kid other people I’m not friends with. But, to didn’t like some of the stuff that was said probably shouldn’t be on.xxxxxxxxxxxxx■ on the show. And, as the rights holder of my knowledge, there’s no problem there. the broadcast, they had every right. What was it like to do a talk show the last This column appeared in the Omaha World- But, on April 20, I’m going to be back four years during the Callahan and doing Nebraska baseball games on NET. Herald April 3 and is reprinted by permis- Pederson regime? sion.

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 41 J DAYS 2008

TERRI TANSEY ALISA MILLER Outstanding advertising alumna, ’78 Outstanding broadcasting alumna, ’92

‘Every client is look- ‘People who wish for ing for innovation … the way it was – that’s Finding the next and that innovation never coming back. The depends largely on tech- only thing to do is ‘best thing’ nology. move forward. TERRI TANSEY helps large, small clients innovate ’ ’

oke. McDonald’s. Wal-Mart. It was Coca-Cola, one of her clients, time she moved into the cell phone Blockbuster. Sprint. The Kansas that lured her away from the Lincoln telecommunications realm. “Sprint was CCity Star.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx agency. The company was introducing not really known as a retail- or consumer- What do these big-name products have “New Coke” and recruited Tansey to man- oriented company at all,” she recalled. But in common? Terri Kuchta Tansey has pro- age its ad agency network and promotions the company realized it had better change moted all of them at some point during at events like the Indie 500, NASCAR races and began hiring people from agencies her 30-year career. and the Super Bowl. The job took her all who understood consumers and how to Tansey likes challenges, likes change. over the nation. reach them. “I like to do different things, and I like to “I’d get home on Friday night and Tansey’s first task when she joined keep learning,”she said. Those inclinations leave home again on Sunday night. It was a Sprint in 1995 was to do partnership mar- have given the advertising and English great way to see the country,” she said, keting with AOL, American Express and double major an array of career opportu- “even the highways of North Dakota.” United and American and other airlines, nities since she graduated in 1978. While she was with Coke, one of her setting up the mechanism for people to Her success was recognized in April most active partnerships was with earn frequent flyer miles in return for when the Journalism Alumni Association McDonald’s, and after three years with the becoming Sprint long distance customers. named her the Outstanding Advertising beverage company, Tansey was recruited to At the same time, she ran a technolo- Alumnus for 2008. be account supervisor of the McDonald’s gy incubator for Sprint, a group charged Tansey went to work at Bailey Lewis account for a Kansas City agency named with high tech innovation and developing — now Bailey Lauerman — in Lincoln a Bernstein-Rein Advertising. new products. week after she graduated. She started as a Bob Bernstein, half of the “Bernstein- She was the consumer marketing offi- media buyer; seven-and-a-half years later, Rein” name, is the creator of McDonald’s cer and the executive lead for strategic she was the vice president for media and famous happy meal, “so the agency was planning when the so-called “dot com” research. steeped in all things McDonald’s,” Tansey bubble burst. That meant “many product Rich Bailey, one of the firm’s said. enhancements would disappear overnight founders, remembers Tansey. “She really But the firm also had other clients. when our subcontractors and consultants helped us put the place on the map as far Tansey managed a national advertising would close their businesses,” she said. more than just a creative shop,” he said. program for Wal-Mart, for instance, and So Sprint took those previously con- “She was incredibly well-rounded and had was managing supervisor for the tracted activities in-house and presented an appreciation for all facets of the busi- Blockbuster video account. Tansey with another challenge. “It gave me ness and contributed to the totality of the After nine years with Bernstein-Rein, the opportunity to take an old company in agency’s success.” Tansey was ready for another change. This a staid environment and transform it from 42 SUMMER 2008 KENT WARNEKE KATHLEEN RUTLEDGE Outstanding news-editorial alumnus, ’82 Service to the profession by a non-alumna, ’70 advertising comes through the agency world.” ‘The Daily News is ‘The industry is reel- During her 30 years in the business, fighting its way through ing in terms of financial Tansey said some of the things that have changed the most have also stayed the the same challenges fac- performance, but there’s same. “Every client is looking for innova- ing newspapers every- more than what’s in stock tion,” she said, just as they always have where: how to reports. been. But “the biggest difference is along adapt. the same lines.” Businesses want more innovation, and that innovation today depends largely on technology. Her advice to students preparing to ’ ’ enter the advertising and strategic communications world? “Everybody needs to selling long distance minutes to serving The Kansas City Star. She helped with the be steeped in what’s going on in the customers every piece of communications sales marketing when the paper opened its Internet and social marketing environ- they use — mobile, Internet, streaming new $200 million press pavilion in 2005. ment but not forget that they also need to video.” She is now a full-time financial, busi- watch TV, use the radio, read newspapers, Sprint was the first telecommunica- ness and professional advertising specialist subscribe to magazines — keep up with tions mobile phone company to sell its for The Star. She works with many of the the traditional media that will continue to entire product line at retail, directly to the city’s largest banks and with the area’s be a part of the baby boomers’ lives” customer. That move, which Tansey chambers of commerce and other profes- because it is that group that will control orchestrated, earned her the Ad Age sional groups. the majority of consumer spending for Marketing 100 award for 1999. She said she made the move to the decades to come. Sprint was a big company with 83,500 newspaper because “I had never been on Even as she works with the evolving employees; Tansey was one of 200 officers. the media side, and I was fascinated by Star, Tansey also continues to operate her And, while she enjoyed her job in the big how this company was going to change its consulting firm, volunteering her time. “I leagues, she also had a hankering to help business model because, clearly, the news- love seeing a small business succeed,” she the little guys. So in spring 2001, while she paper industry is not the same burgeoning said. was still with Sprint, she founded her own business it was even a few years ago.” She and her husband, Michael Tansey, consulting company, Second Opinion. “Advertisers today reach their cus- who holds a Ph.D. in economics, also love She wanted to take the expertise she tomers in a multitude of new and different the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City had developed working for some very ways,” she said, “and The Star has invested where her husband created a series of large companies and translate it into suc- in every conceivable enhancement” by tours developed for business executives. cessful programs for local small business- owning the largest Web site in Kansas City They met while Terri was completing an es. “I served, in essence, as the chief mar- as well as a direct marketing firm, niche executive MBA program. keting officer for a number of companies newspapers and magazines and more. Tansey said her job at The Star is pre- who didn’t need full-time (agency help) Brett Miller, Tansey’s supervisor at senting new challenges and opportunities. but wanted to take advantage of strategic The Star, said her background outside the Miller, her boss, said, “I admire the planning and integrated communica- newspaper industry has made her espe- heck out of Terri. … I see great things for tions.” cially valuable to the newspaper.“She’s had Terri in the years to come at The Star.” Tansey left Sprint in 2003 to operate marketing exposure in agencies and in big He hopes she’ll stay around. her consulting business full-time. While telecommunications firms,” Miller said. “If she wants to stay another 25 years, she had clients all over the country, most “She has an agency perspective that’s very she’ll be welcome.” ■ were in Kansas City, and one of them was helpful. A lot of our business-to-business — By CHARLYNE BERENSXXXX>> J ALUMNI NEWS 43 J DAYS 2008 Blurring the lines Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Satisfaction Policy. She joined PRI after working at ALISA MILLER Sesame Workshop (formerly Children’s leads PRI into the Television Workshop), where she served as guaranteed age of convergence assistant vice president and as director of business development and strategy for KENT WARNEKE finds rewards Sesame.com. in community journalism hile the top executives of most At the time she was chosen for the top traditional media outlets are post at PRI, colleagues described her as Wwringing their hands over the smart, innovative and energetic — but not implications of new media and the particularly cautious. Miller herself ournalism, community and service are Internet, Alisa Miller has fully embraced described her vision in an interview with intertwined in Kent Warneke’s mind. what the industry calls convergence. Current magazine: “Where we can see JIt’s a connection he learned at home. You can listen to her on YouTube, crit- exponential growth is through station Web Warneke’s father, Lee, published the ically analyzing how the way we see the sites and other vehicles that support the newspaper in Plainview, a small northeast world is shaped by the news — or, more whole core of what public media is about.” Nebraska town. Today, Warneke works just accurately, the choices made by news exec- But while she is embracing new plat- down the road in Norfolk, putting into utives. forms, Miller is also concerned that the practice the lessons he learned about how Or you can look at just a few of the seeming abundance of information that newspapers can serve their communities. initiatives she has launched at Public comes via the Internet is something of an “If you are publisher of a weekly Radio International, which she joined in illusion. paper in a small community,” Warneke 2001 and where she has been president and Much of the information, or news, said of his father’s role in Plainview, chief executive officer since 2006. Prior to online is taken from stories originally “you’re looked at as an integral part of that taking on the top job, she managed PRI’s reported for broadcast or print, she noted, community. You still need to be objective, new media business and new business and the increasing pressure for profits in still need to be fair, but you also have to be planning, leading the creation of Public those businesses can’t help but endanger Radio LLC, a partnership that manages original reporting. block digital radio streams on satellite “High-market journalism and the Warneke’s sense of service includes helping young journalists drive for profit makes in-depth, quality radio. And she recently launched Public He may not be in a traditional classroom, but Action, a “virtual” public square, where journalism easy to cut,” Miller said. That’s especially true for international Kent Warneke spends a considerable audiences can join or form online social amount of time teaching. news, a subject she explores on her four- networks to discuss issues and share ideas At Norfolk, Warneke inherited a tradi- minute YouTube talk titled “How does the or experiences. tion established by the paper’s publisher, For Miller, clearly, radio is more than news shape the way we see the world?” Jerry Huse: maintaining a relationship with radio. News networks have cut their foreign UNL to bring young reporters to the publica- “I see the lines between different types bureaus by half, she said, which helps dis- tion and train them while they were new to of media continuing to blur,” said Miller, a tort the view Americans have of the world their careers. 1992 graduate of the College of Journalism – a picture she illustrates with a cartogram, Andrew Moseman, a UNL graduate who and Mass Communications and winner of a distorted map of the world. interned in Norfolk after his junior year of this year’s Outstanding Broadcasting Her analysis of February 2007 net- college in 2005, spoke highly of Warneke’s Alumna award. work news coverage, for example, shows ability to make young journalists feel at For young journalists, she thinks, that that American news accounted for 79 per- home as he taught them. means thinking of themselves as their own cent of news minutes, much of that domi- “If you’re working at the Daily News, it’s individual media company and thinking nated by the death of Anna Nicole Smith. probably going to be your first internship,” about the craft in a cross-platform man- The map of local news is even worse, with Moseman said. “He’s the ideal person to ner. It also means finding a passion. “The only 12 percent of coverage focused on work with if you’re just coming out of your first or second year in college.” hunger and drive is what makes someone international news. Internet news was no Because of the paper’s size, Warneke is successful,”she said during her J Days visit. better, Miller said, citing studies that found the top 24 stories on Google and Yahoo closely involved with the editing process for Miller’s path to the top job at PRI is a the young journalists’ stories but works in a primer in creative thinking. After graduat- News to be the same as those on network news. She said the problem is not lack of manner that doesn’t intimidate new ing from UNL, she earned an MBA and reporters. MPP at the University of Chicago’s interest and noted that the number of people who say they follow international news “He’s not high-strung or anything. He’s Graduate School of Business and the a very easy guy to work with,” Moseman has increased to 52 percent from 37 per- said. cent 20 years ago. ‘I see the lines between Moseman went on to complete a gradu- “I know we can do better,” she said in ate science writing program at the different types of media her videotaped remarks. “And we can’t Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ■ continuing to blur. afford not to.” has begun an internship with Discover — By STEPHANI RUIZ ALISA MILLER 44 SUMMER 2008 ’ J ALUMNI NEWS 33 involved in and promote your community boards and committees in the Norfolk The 27 editorials Warneke wrote dur- and devote a lot of attention to it.” community. ing the year following the bank shootings The same is true in a community the But his and the paper’s community earned him the Francis L. Partsch Editorial size of Norfolk, he said. The publisher and involvement may never have been deeper Leadership Award in 2004. The Omaha editors are expected to be involved, and than it was following the September 2002 World-Herald had established the award they are. Good thing it’s something attempted robbery and shootings at the previous year in honor of retired edito- Warneke said he enjoys doing. Norfolk’s US Bank branch in which five rial page editor Frank Partsch. In recognition of his service to jour- people were killed. The men charged with Though it’s hardly on the same scale nalism and his community, Warneke was the killings were Hispanic, and the poten- with the newspaper’s response to the bank named the Outstanding News-Editorial tial for racial conflict after the incident was shootings, Warneke said the Norfolk Daily Alumnus for 2008 by the UNL Journalism huge. News is currently fighting its way through Alumni Association. Warneke said dealing with the situa- the same challenges facing newspapers Warneke majored in journalism and tion was one of the biggest challenges he’s everywhere: how to adapt to the changing political science at UNL. He also worked at faced at the paper, “but also, strange as it media world. the Daily Nebraskan, joined a fraternity, seems, it was an exhilarating situation. It “We offer an electronic edition of the donned the red robe of an Innocent and was tragic for the community, but it was an paper that is Web based,” Warneke said, earned fine grades before graduating in opportunity for the Daily News to put its and are adding more and more video, slide 1982. best effort forth — to report on whatever show, blogs — “all the kinds of things we Warneke got a job at the Omaha needed to be reported on, to provide edi- know are happening in the newspaper World-Herald right out of college but left torial comment, to be a calming influence, industry.” in 1987 to take a position as managing edi- a mediator. N orfolk Daily News rep orters are tor of the Norfolk Daily News. “You have to take advantage of those encouraged to think of stories in new More than 20 years later, he is now the opportunities when they come along even ways, and they are shooting video, posting publication’s editor and vice president. though we don’t want those opportunities things to the Web site, working on slide And he serves on and leads a number of to come along,”Warneke said. shows. Those kinds of changes may be hard- er to accomplish at a family owned paper service includes helping young journalists like the Daily News than at a paper that’s part of a chain with access to more Magazine. succinct description of Warneke’s abilities: resources, he added, but it has to be done. But the essential lessons he learned in “He writes stories, edits nearly every- Norfolk haven’t changed. thing, leads the newsroom, makes appear- “In whatever method or manner it’s deliv- “Three years ago I was doing reports ances in the community and somehow still ered, there’s still a need for information about tourist attractions in Nebraska and manages to have time every day to mentor and a need for citizens to be informed. We the Wayne County Fair,” Moseman said. the intern. It was probably the most guid- just have to figure out the best way to do “As far as what I’m doing is concerned, ance I’ve ever received at an internship.” it.” the things that make good writing are the For Warneke, the idea behind his work Thus far, the newspaper seems to have same, whether you’re in a small town at a with young reporters is simple: He wants to been reaching that goal on a regular basis. daily newspaper like Norfolk or you’re prepare them for the challenges they will The Norfolk Daily News has won the com- doing things on national scientific discover- face in the future in a way that takes advan- munity service award among Nebraska ies at MIT. You try to incorporate the same tage of a small paper’s ability to give daily newspapers for eight of the last 11 kinds of stuff. interns a broad range of experience in a years. The award is endowed by the Omaha “In a way, it’s a lot of the same princi- close-knit environment. World-Herald. ples I was working on when Kent was teach- Interns provide a unique benefit for a Warneke praised the staff members at ing me three years ago,” he said. publication, Warneke said. They bring a the Norfolk paper for being willing to Meredith Grunke Gardner, a UNL grad- refreshing sense of energy and enthusiasm adapt to the changes their jobs demand uate who worked with Warneke in 2006 and to a newsroom. and to remain responsive to and involved is now a reporter with the Grand Island “I think what’s most important is to in their community. He said working with Independent, echoed those ideas. acknowledge that and not to try to blow such dedicated people is one reason he “He knows the interns are learning, smoke in that. We are all involved in an finds his job rewarding. but at the same time he wants to treat them evolving and changing industry, and we’re The Norfolk community is another. like regular reporters, and he wants them to all searching for the best approach,” he “There are lots of good people here,” he have good assignments and good learning said. said. “I’m really proud of what the com- experiences,” she said of Warneke. So the more the industry can teach “He’s happy to cater to your own com- interns that journalism is “a work in munity has done. Hopefully, the Daily fort zone as a reporter, but at the same progress,” Warneke said, the better. News has played a part in making some time he pushes you to do your best and “I think the key as much as possible is important things happen.” treats you very professionally.” to make an intern understand that there is After all, that’s what one would ex- Jenna Johnson, another former intern, no scientific formula to this.” ■ pect of a newspaper that serves its com- ■ now with the Washington Post, provided a — By JOHNNY PEREZ munity. — By CHARLYNE BERENSXXXX>> 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 45 J DAYS 2008 Important work KATHLEEN RUTLEDGE believes in journalism’s goals, even as the industry is changing

fter 30 years in the newspaper business, Kathleen Rutledge called it Aquits last November.xxxxxxxxxxxxx “I always said to myself that I would keep working as long as it’s fun,” said the retired editor of the Lincoln Journal Star. “The non-fun was starting to rise.” And while Rutledge doesn’t elaborate on the non-fun part of her former job, it isn’t hard to believe it was there given the unprecedented pressure the business is currently facing along with an editor’s responsibility to steer news coverage as well as manage tightening resources. Even so, she’s far from pessimistic. “I believe that there’s no question that the industry is really reeling in terms of financial performance, but there’s more of a future to journalism than what’s in stock market reports,” she said. She cites a blog where she recently read that journalism is not so much in a period of transition now KATHLEEN RUTLEDGE • ALISA MILLER • KENT WARNEKE TERRI TANSEYxxxxxxxx but rather that constant change is really the new reality for journalism. Rutledge, who was honored for became the news side’s responsibility, the teacher at a school for children with devel- “Service to the Profession by a Non- Web editor spent only about 10 hours a opmental disabilities. Alumnus” during this year’s J Days, said week working on the site, she said. Now But at age 27, she decided to take her newsrooms are still important places there’s a full-time staff, and the site fea- father’s advice and began taking journal- doing important work. But young journal- tures blogs, videos, podcasts, interactive ism classes at UNL in 1976. ists today must make themselves more graphics and opportunities for reader “He just thought I was pretty com- employable by learning multimedia skills feedback. Online deadlines come first. fortable with writing,” she said. She added as newspapers move into digital journal- But for Rutledge, the basics remain. that her uncle, Jack Fischer, had been the ism. And one thing hasn’t changed, she Joe Starita, a member of the J school facul- editor of the Daily Nebraskan in the 1930s said: A good reporter has to have “curiosi- ty who was city editor at the Journal Star and that her father thought she could be ty, high energy, a fierce commitment to from 1998-2000, said, “Kathy Rutledge is another member of the family who could accuracy and fairness and balance, a heart old school. By that I mean she has a great do well in journalism. and a thick skin.” deal of integrity. … She was almost neu- At the end of her first year of journal- Today’s newsroom is a different place rotic in insisting that stories be fair and ism classes at UNL, one of her professors than it was when she began her career in balanced.” suggested that she get some real-life jour- 1977 as a death-and-weather clerk at the Rutledge, 59, took an unusual path to nalism experience. The professor got her Lincoln Journal, then the city’s evening the city’s top newsroom job. that job as a death-and-weather clerk in newspaper. Back then, the tools were type- She had no journalism experience 1977 — and that was the end of her formal writers and pencils. Now, it’s a different during high school or college. She gradu- journalism education. story — and the biggest changes have ated from the University of “As soon as I walked into a news- come via the advent of online journalism. Nebraska–Lincoln in 1970 with an English room, I was just hooked,” Rutledge said. “The Web has to be integrated into the degree, not knowing what she wanted to She didn’t return to school. work flow,” she said. When the Lincoln do. She worked for the Nebraska And it wasn’t long before she moved Journal Star we nt online in the mid ’90s, Department of Public Welfare, as a coun- into increasingly important roles at the the site was not even handled in the news- selor in a group home for children who paper. In 1995, when Lee Enterprises — room. Later, when the Web site first were in trouble with the law and as a which already owned the Lincoln Star, the 46 SUMMER 2008 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 Not just clowning around ULYSSES CARLINI SR. focused on young people throughout his career

ong before Bert and Ernie moved into their brownstone apartment on LSesame Street, back before Mr. Rogers had his neighborhood, the children of northwest Kentucky had Peppo the Clown. Ulysses Carlini Sr., the 2008 Nebraska Broadcasting Pioneer award winner, began

o courtesy Ulysses Carlini Sr. Carlini Ulysses o courtesy his television career in 1953 at WEHT-TV

Phot in Henderson, Ky. Besides producing pro- ULYSSES CARLINI SR. grams and selling advertising, Carlini was the creator and host of “Peppo the Clown,” Nebraska Pioneer Award recipient a Saturday morning children’s program. He wore white make-up decorated with blue hearts and, after the show, spent a lot of time with children in the audience. “It was the hardest job I ever had,”said slavish devotion to old fashioned, old Carlini, who played Peppo for six years.“All by Teresa Prince Teresa o by school journalism ethics. Her word you the kids wanted to meet me.” Phot could take to the bank, and she assumed Carlini bade farewell to Peppo in 1959, TERRI TANSEYxxxxxxxx that her reporters and her editors were moving across the Ohio River to Evansville, going to adhere to the highest form of Ind., to take the job of programming direc- ethics journalism can achieve.” tor at WTVW-TV. But the promotion to One story that drew a lot of attention management didn’t end his on-camera morning newspaper — bought the — and complaints — during Rutledge’s work; at WTVW, he created and hosted Journal, Rutledge went from being editori- tenure was the Journal Star’s scoop that “Fire Chief Andy,” another children’s pro- al page editor for the evening paper to city Frank Solich was about to be fired as head gram. editor for the new Lincoln Journal Star. football coach in 2003. Fans who liked While at WTVW-TV, Carlini met She subsequently became managing editor Solich were enraged with the newspaper, Richard Shively, who had bought KNOP- and, in 2001, editor. even though the story turned out to be TV in North Platte, Neb. Shively offered The merger wasn’t an easy transition, true. Carlini the job of vice-president and gener- said Catharine Huddle, now Sunday edi- Rutledge shepherded the story into al manager of the western Nebraska sta- tor, because two separate and highly com- print, Huddle said, telling the staff,“This is tion. When Carlini arrived in 1968, the sta- petitive staffs merged into one staff what we know, this is what we don’t know tion needed new lights, new cameras and overnight. “Living through it was pretty and this is what we need.” new just about everything else. much hell,” Huddle recalled. A little more than six months into her “It was really a struggle. There was so However difficult that period was, retirement, Rutledge doesn’t seem to miss much to do,” Carlini said. “The transmitter Rutledge said the merger wasn’t a bad the firing line. Although she originally — every other week it would go off the air. thing. “I think the paper did well under thought about taking another job after a It was tube driven. You had to be a doggone Lee,” she said, adding that Lee didn’t dic- period of time off, she said she’s having genius to keep the thing going.” When the tate what went into the newspaper and such a good time that she has abandoned transmitter was down, the station was off that the company encourages good local that plan, at least for now. Married to for- the air until engineers could figure out how journalism. “I was proud that Lee mer U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, she is to fix it, Carlini said Enterprises, before I left, was doing its best volunteering at Clinton Elementary KNOP has come a long way since then, to maintain quality journalism in a com- School and doing research at the State and Carlini said that getting the station on petitive market.” Historical Society, reading archived news- its feet is one of his proudest accomplish- Starita thinks Rutledge was one big papers from the 1880s. ments. reason the Lincoln paper was able to “I’m not so old that I can’t have fun ■ It was that accomplishment — maintain that quality. “One thing that before life is over,” Rutledge said. and many more — that led to >> really stands out about her was her almost — By NATASHA RICHARDSON 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 47 J DAYS 2008 continued from page 47 Recognizing service and commitment

Dean Will Norton highlighted the contributions of each of the three Dean’s Award winners when he presented the awards at the college’s J Days honors convocation n io By ASTRID MUNN ciat courtesy Nebraska Press Asso Press Nebraska o courtesy Phot ns io Ulysses Carlini Jr. (left) accepted the Broadcast Pioneer Award from Nebraska Broadcasters Association chairman Dennis Brown, unicat KCSR/Chadron, at the alumni award luncheon mm y Co sit Carlini’s being honored with the 2008 Broadcast Pioneer Award, presented during J Days ceremonies by the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

“Without my wife (Georgene), I couldn’t have done it,” Univer o courtesy

Carlini said of his career. And there’s ample proof of family Phot involvement. “At some point in the late ’70s, nine of the 30 people at JOHN GOTTSCHALK KNOP were Carlinis,”recalls Lewys Carlini, now general manager of the station. All of the eight Carlini children, at one time or JOHN GOTTSCHALK is a native of Rushville, Neb., and an alum- another, worked for their father at the station. Another son, nus of UNL. As CEO and publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, Ulysses Jr., is general manager of KHAS-TV in Hastings, Neb. he was publisher of the largest news organization in Nebraska. Carlini earned a master’s degree in oral interpretation of lit- His publishing decisions and personal and corporate phi- erature — or, as he calls it, “reading aloud” — from Northwestern lanthropy have played a major role in setting a trajectory of University. “One thing that really ought to be stressed to people progress for Omaha and Nebraska, and the kindness and gen- who are going to be on the air, radio or TV, is oral interpretation erosity he and his wife, Carmen, have demonstrated to dozens and dozens of foster children have provided essential support of literature,” he said. “That’s what you’re going to do the rest of for and given hope to those who had no hope. life: read aloud. People come into the business and don’t know Today Mr. Gottschalk is chairman of the Omaha World- how to talk. There’s a lot to this reading aloud.” Herald Company. He has been larger than life in the news Though officially retired, Carlini, 83, is still engaged in read- industry of Nebraska during his years of publishing leadership ing aloud, coaching the young on-air talent at KNOP. One of his and deserves special recognition. current students is Kendra Potter, the 20-year-old anchor of the For his decades of contribution to life on the Great Plains, station’s 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news programs. the Dean’s Award is merely a token expression of the signifi- “He’ll even call after a newscast and give critiques or say pos- cance of the leadership he displayed from World-Herald Square itive things about it,”Potter said. “I give him most of the credit; in on Dodge Street and now from the newspaper’s new offices at seven months, I went from reporter to anchor.” ■ 1314 Douglas St. — By AARON JAMES 48 SUMMER 2008 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 on’t blame the newspapers’ prob- ing it modern appeal and maintaining the importance. And for news that is of inter- D lems on the advent of Internet. journalistic integrity of the state’s largest est — we’re struggling to keep the audi- The Internet is not that great a and most influential publication. ence captive.” challenge to newspapers, said John It’s not a problem with an easy solu- It’s almost as if news for the sake of Gottschalk, recently retired publisher of tion. Gottschalk, chairman of the World- news isn’t enough. It also must amuse. the Omaha World-Herald. It’s just another Herald Company, likened the new reader “Frankly, a lot of people would rather method of distribution, really. to a caterpillar in a cocoon, wrapped in a be entertained than informed,” said The challenge is figuring out what to single strand of thought. Partsch, retired editor of the opinion page post online and what to print on paper, he King, the World-Herald’s executive at the World-Herald, where he worked for said. Behind this challenge are readers, editor-turned director of initiatives, said, 30 years. “We have to balance public policy whose interest in public policy is receding. “It’s a combination of apathy and the sin- news with the imperative of entertaining In addition to being honored for their gle-interest aspect of people’s thinking. in order to get the largest possible reader- longtime contributions to Nebraska jour- And I think journalists lament that a bit.” ship.” nalism, the winners of this year’s Dean’s Gottschalk agreed. “I think newspa- The importance of readers to a news- Award — Gottschalk, Larry King and pers reflect society, and they are reflecting paper’s survival can’t be ignored. Frank Partsch — also were recognized for much more superficial interests,” “Newspapers are business enterpris- their most recent efforts: seeking a balance Gottschalk said. “There’s more soft news es,” Partsch said. “They have to for the Omaha World-Herald between giv- and almost a pandering to issues of minor attract readers. To do that, we have to >> ald ald er er ld-H ld-H or or W Omaha o courtesy W Omaha o courtesy Phot Phot FRANK PARTSCH LARRY KING

FRANK PARTSCH, a 1967 graduate of this college, joined the LARRY KING, former executive editor of the Omaha World- ranks of the W all Street Journal bef ore returning to Sidney, Neb., Herald, is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. to carve out a career as a community journalist. He culminated his career by leading the newsroom of the Later he would join the Omaha World-Herald and gain Omaha World-Herald during the last decade, making significant stature as one of the true craftsmen of editorial writing in mod- changes in news coverage and presentation. ern newspapering. Because of the power of his newspaper in its He has been a long-time supporter and promoter of the circulation area, few editorialists have had as much influence quality of graduates of this college. His insights and encourage- day after day after day after day. ment have played a major role in influencing decisions this col- Moreover, through the years his insights and reflections lege has made through the years. informed executives of the Omaha World-Herald and influenced Tonight we present the Dean’s Award in recognition of a the newspaper’s policies in many areas. He clearly was a calm career devoted to excellence through leadership on the domi- and thoughtful voice on whom the company leadership could nant newspaper of the region. Although he could not be here for depend for steadiness and depth. this event, please join me in honoring Larry King. Tonight we extend the Dean’s Award as an expression of our respect for his careful reflections on the issues and challenges of contemporary life on the Great Plains. We honor this gentle son of the plains who did not shrink from confronting the topics of controversy for his state and community.

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 49 J DAYS 2008 continued from page 49 report what readers want. The audience standards of completeness, thoroughness since World War II, things have gotten bet- has changed, and the changes in the news and accuracy, even if the market doesn’t ter, and the children and grandchildren of product are to adapt to the audience.” seem to be demanding it.” the people who fought in World War II But that is not to say the World-Herald He said readers might not be demand- have gotten pretty comfortable,”King said. is going to be all Miley Cyrus all the time. ing news of world events or public policy “But if we look around — at the war, at “We need to keep the news product because they feel secure in their surround- fuel prices, at the downturn in our econo- and give it to readers quickly in the format ings, but despite that, some news simply my — there are danger signs telling us they want to receive it,” King said. “At the must be made available. we’d better pay attention to what’s going same time, I think we need to adhere to “I think in each succeeding generation on.

NEBRASKA STATEHOOD DAY ‘Guard this heritage well’

By JOHN GOTTSCHALK plains standing dark against a thundercloud … s a young boy grow- “The tall white tower of ing up in Rushville in our capitol reaching into the the far northwest cor- mists of the night … A ner of this great “In their keeping lies the state, I recall my first visit to heritage of the vision followed this building — and the awe I by their fathers the wide-world felt at its beauty and grandeur. across, a vision of a land free Never in my wildest imagi- from intolerance — and oppres- nation did I suspect the state I sion — and want. Guard this love and have spent my life heritage well.” serving would one day honor Guard this heritage well. me in this beautiful rotunda. Longtime friends Lloyd I am humbled by your Castner, Jane Hood, Don presence here tonight and the Overman and Roger Lempke words of Gov. Heinemann in my and new friend Clayton by Teresa Prince Teresa o by introduction. I am equally hon- Anderson have been great ored by the presence of my Phot guardians of this heritage — family including my wife, John Gottschalk (left) accepts the Dean’s Award at the Honors Convocation and I am honored to be in their Carmen, daughters, Jodi and company tonight as they also Christina, and their families, this special place. make you see Nebraska as it receive awards. and my sister, Lynn Roper, and Mari Sandoz lived and is must have looked to the trail- I give humble thanks to the her husband Dana. buried in my home county of weary eyes of the early settlers NEBRASKAland Foundation for What a wonderful state Sheridan. In 1939 she wrote a coming from far and strange the high honor they have we share! I’ve had the privilege response to a rural school in lands in search of homes and bestowed on my life’s work for of knowing and/or working Nebraska, which had made freedom from want and Nebraska. ■ with all but one of the 25 past inquiry of the famous author as oppression for themselves and recipient of the to why she had returned to their children. NEBRASKAlander Award, start- Nebraska. Her eloquence “But I have no words to John Gottschalk of Omaha, former ing with its inaugural winner speaks far beyond mine in her give these things reality. I can- publisher of the Omaha World- Tom Osborne and including answer to the children — and not even hope to express my Herald, received the 2008 three in attendance tonight: Fr. about what tonight we cele- own feelings for Nebraska. To Distinguished NEBRASKAlander Val Peter, Mike Yanney and Jim brate as Statehood Day. She me, this is Nebraska — this and award during ceremonies March 1 Keene. That says something wrote: the thousands of things that at the Nebraska State Capitol. The very powerful about Nebraska. “I wish I could make you come suddenly to mind when I award is presented by the It is a place where men and see the region as it must have am far away. … NEBRASKAland Foundation to women of goodwill can, and looked to the free-roving “A recollection of a slow, those who have distinguished do, exert their efforts for the Indians when spring last ran golden autumn hanging along themselves in service and recogni- good of all. It is the legacy of swift and green along the the breaks of the Missouri … our populism and our enduring slopes, bringing new grass for “The dark velvet of spring tion of the state’s social, historical, spirit of neighborliness. We winter-gaunted ponies and for plowing seen through the haze cultural or economic well-being. care about one another, and the buffalo that would soon of evening with wild geese Printed here are the remarks we strive to improve the lives move like a dark cloud out of honking overhead … Gottschalk made in accepting the and prosperity of all who share the horizon. I would like to “The cedars of the high award. 50 SUMMER 2008 “Our job in journalism is to get read- immediacy than any other,” he said. “I ers’ attention.” believe we are evolving in a positive direc- And strong writing, all three men tion; it’s not going to be like anything said, will always draw attention. we’ve seen in the past.” “If someone is into Grand Theft Auto So before waxing nostalgic for news- news, they aren’t going to look at the op-ed papers of yesteryear, perhaps journalists page,” Partsch said. “But I have long felt and readers alike should take heart. that a good piece of writing will still “Newspapers still tell great stories,” demand to be read, even by those who are Gottschalk said. “What we have to look not interested.” forward to in newspapers is a continuation ns

Though the readership is changing of credible and reliable and accurate news. io and newspapers may at times indulge in Newspapers are places of important and unicat fluff, Partsch said these transformations interesting matters and give us the oppor- mm are not necessarily bad. tunity to be inspired, to be contemplative y Co

“Maybe I’m a fatalist, but we are see- or to have a laugh.” sit ing a cultural evolution with much more Sounds entertaining. ■

2007 Sorensen Award Univer o courtesy Phot JIM SEACREST Seacrest honored for helping to build the university

Jim Seacrest was honored by the university at commencement ceremonies on May 10 with the Nebraska Builder Award. The award is the highest non-academic award granted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and, since May 1946, has been given by the university to individuals who have displayed exceptional service to the state and university. Recipients are individuals who have contributed to building programs and the reputation of the university either because of their connection with or contributions to the institution. Seacrest graduated from UNL in 1963

ald with a degree in business administration. er He had a long career as president and ld-H

or chairman of the Western Publishing Company in North Platte, publishers of the North Platte Telegraph and other papers. He and his wife, Rhonda, have provided major support for the journalism col- W ourtesy Omaha lege, the UNL business college and the UNL e c College of Fine and Performing Arts. At the Imag J school, they have endowed several pro- HENRY J. CORDES, ERIN GRACE, CINDY GONZALEZ, KENT SIEVERS and RUDY fessorships, underwritten the furnishing of SMITH won the Thomas C. Sorensen Award for Distinguished Journalism in the J.C. Seacrest Lecture Hall, endowed a Nebraska during 2007 for the Omaha World-Herald’s four-part series “Omaha lecture series and created an endowed in Black and White.” The award was presented by the J school during the J Days scholarship. ■ honors convocation. ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 51 JNews& Notes ADVERTISING PHYLLIS LARSEN served as a reviewer for the Nebraska Medical Association in the public relations research paper compe- Lincoln. tition for the Association for Education in Struthers worked with the Lincoln FRAUKE HACHTMANN became chair of Journalism and Mass Communications Journal Star and Lee Enterprises to develop graduate studies at the College of summer conference. For the second time, a course in advertising sales that resulted in Journalism and Mass Communications at Larsen also led a summer study abroad six students’ flying on Lee’s corporate jet to the beginning of spring semester. She also class to Mexico to explore the use of mass headquarters in Davenport, Iowa, where oversees the college’s assessment activities media in a developing country. The group they presented their concept for a new and represents the college on the campus- included 11 students representing eight mobile product to CEO Mary Junck. wide interim Achievement-Centered different majors. Struthers advised the National Education committee. Student Advertising Competition team, In the spring, she presented a peer- NANCY MITCHELL completed work as a which spent the year researching use of text reviewed article at the Western Decision co-author with Sandra Moriarty on a new and instant messaging in order to develop Sciences Institute’s Annual Conference in edition of one of the leading introductory a campaign for AIM. The team took third San Diego, Calif., and another at the textbooks for advertising students. place in the district competition April 18 in American Academy of Advertising annual Advertising: Principles and Practices, 8th Omaha. Struthers was recognized by the convention in San Mateo, Calif. edition, a 640-page book, was published in UNL Parents Association for her work with Hachtmann was also appointed to February by Pearson Prentice Hall. students for the third consecutive year. chair the American Academy of Mitchell changed positions within the uni- Advertising membership committee and versity in January. She is the interim direc- continues to serve on the executive com- tor for general education, charged with the BROADCASTING mittee of the Association for Education in responsibility of implementing the new Journalism and Mass Communications Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) RICK ALLOWAY was elected to a second Advertising Division. This spring, she program for UNL students. She will con- term on the board of directors of the chaired the national research paper com- tinue to teach an advertising course each Northwest Broadcast News Association, a petition. On campus, she chaired the UNL semester during the interim period. six-state regional journalism association Advisory Committee for Study Abroad, led based in Minneapolis. At the Northwest a faculty team of four as part of UNL’s Peer AMY STRUTHERS presented research on Broadcast News Association annual con- Review of Teaching Project and continues her work involving public health messages ference in April, he took first place in the to the serve on the UNL Faculty Senate and teens at the midwinter conference of radio feature category for an audio feature executive committee. Two of her students the Association for Education in on former Husker basketball player Leroy won an ADDY® award for their work on a Journalism and Mass Communications in Chalk. Harley-Davidson advertising campaign. Pittsburgh in March. She also presented to Alloway completed a half-hour radio documentary on Americans living in Paris. Other documentary projects “in the hop- per” include one on Ethiopian music, one on the play-by-play voices of Husker football in the Devaney and Osborne era and an audio version of the quilt video project. He was recognized by the UNL Parents Association for contributions to students, his 15th such recognition. He completed his second year as secretary to the Faculty Senate and was selected to appear on a panel in August at the convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications on what students need to know to start their careers in the new converged marketplace. Alloway and J school engineer Vance Payne ahn are consultants to the Graduate School of yn H il Journalism at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia in their effort to put a radio sta-

by Mar o by tion on the air. Phot From left: Paul Sutter, Bright Lights assistant Annie Mumgaard (standing), Forrest Burroughs, Patrick TRINA CREIGHTON will receive the master Williams and Tyler Minter operate the switching equipment from the control room during the newscast. of science degree in leadership develop- 52 SUMMER 2008 33 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS ment in August. Her thesis includes a written manuscript, “The Academic Achievement Gap: What are the Barriers to Black Adolescent Males to Higher Education,” and a video documentary, “The Academic Achievement Gap: We Do Better When We Know Better.” Both are case studies in Omaha. The documentary is narrated by actor John Beasley, a native of Omaha, and includes interviews with 15 black males from Omaha: five attending UNL, five jobless high school dropouts and five attending a program called Young Life, a program headed by black adult males who are trying to intervene. Also involved in the project is UNO’s Dr. Franklin

Thompson, who is also a member of the ahn Omaha City Council. Plans are in the yn H works to show the documentary in several il venues. by Mar o by

LAURIE THOMAS LEE was elected vice Phot president of Bright Lights Inc., a nonprofit From left: Scott Winter, Joe Starita, Tim Anderson and Frauke Hachtmann celebrate their promotions organization that offers summer educa- at the May 2008 faculty meeting. tional programs for youth in Lincoln. She presented a research paper at the speaker for an event sponsored by “Focus the world. He and Scott Winter took seven 8th World Media Economics and the Nation,” a student-organized effort on students — five photographers, one Management Conference in Lisbon, more than 100 college campuses to reporter and one videographer — to Portugal, in May. Her paper was titled encourage the nation to do something Kosovo over spring break. The photo stu- Understanding the Economics of Online about global warming. Her speech was dents worked on documenting poverty Privacy. titled “Reporting on global warming: and are putting that content together into In April she gave a panel presentation Journalists’ obligations and opportunities.” audio slideshows on Current Issues in Privacy at the She is editing a book on communicating This summer, Thorson is working Broadcast Education Association conven- about science to the general public for the with a student who will design and lay out tion in Las Vegas. She also spoke on a panel University of Nebraska Press. a photo book using the Kosovo photo- at AEJMC in Washington, D.C., last sum- Johnsen is working with Natasha graphs. In June, he traveled to South Africa mer. She served as a delegate for Nebraska Richardson, a news-ed major who has a with 10 students — seven photographers, at the national ACLU convention in UCARE grant, to produce a piece about two reporters and one videographer — Seattle, participating in sessions on such how global warming is already affecting where they documented the immigration topics as public records, journalists’ rights, Nebraska. problems South Africa has with and privacy. Zimbabwe. He is also finishing the Peer Lee served as Banned Books Week JOE STARITA co-taught a yearlong class Review of Teaching program. committee chairperson for the Academic with Carolyn Johnsen that put the ethanol Freedom Coalition of Nebraska, setting up issue under a microscope, examining the SCOTT WINTER taught editorial and fea- various public events (panels, presenta- controversial alternative fuel from a variety ture writing at the University of Addis tions) on the topic of censorship, in con- of angles. The full-length color magazine Ababa during trips to Ethiopia in junction with the Nebraska Library will be available in late summer. He also December and January. He also joined Association and ACLU Nebraska. finished a biography, “I Am A Man” – Chief photography professor Bruce Thorson to Standing Bear: A Native Son’s Search for take seven students on a depth report trip Justice, that will be published by St. to Pristina, Kosovo, where the group stud- NEWS-EDITORIAL Martin’s Press and released in May 2009. ied poverty and other struggles. He was accepted into UNL’s English doctoral pro- TIM ANDERSON was promoted to associ- BRUCE THORSON took five photo stu- gram and completed a writing workshop ate professor. He is working on a biography dents to Columbia, Mo., in February to with Texas State’s Tim O’Brien, the of John Neihardt. watch the judging for the Pictures of the Minnesota author of The Things They Year International competition, one of the Carried and J uly, July.Winter was recently CAROLYN JOHNSEN was an invited most prestigious photo competitions in promoted to assistant professor. ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 53 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

2007 coordinator with Olsson Associates in TONY GORMAN has been the news direc- Lincoln. CAROL CORNSILK, who earned the mas- tor at KSDP, a public radio station in Sand DAWN KJELDGAARD ter’s degree in December 2007, will join the Point, Alaska, since March. was named project faculty at the University of North Texas in manager at the Lincoln office of Bailey EMILY HAGEN Denton in fall 2008. She will teach courses , Denver, is an advertising Lauerman in May. She was previously in documentary production, writing and coordinator with Weaver Multimedia director of marketing and admissions at film production for television. Group in Denver. She is a member of the Waverly Care Center in Waverly. She American Heart Association 2008 Heart earned the master’s degree in marketing TARYN FISHER and Brad Marcy of Lincoln Walk logistics committee and is also start- communications and advertising and has were married May 24 in Rushville. The ing her own event planning business, spe- more than 10 years of industry experience. bride is employed as a media and promo- cializing in weddings. JOACHIM NYONI tions assistant by Ayres Kahler Advertising , St. Louis, Mo., who in Lincoln. 2004 earned the M.A. from the J school in 2005, is regional director of development for EMILY DECAMP MARK MAHONEY, Hickman, is a reporter , New York City, is a con- Washington University in St. Louis. at the Voice News in Hickman. He started nections associate at MediaVest, a division SHANE PEKNY at the paper in January 2007 and became a of Starcom MediaVest Group. As a media and Krynn Zeller, both of full-time employee after graduating in planner, she works on the Coca-Cola Omaha, were married May 24 in Omaha. May. He and NICOLE LYNN STARKEY,an account. She previously was a media plan- He is business development and grants advertising major at the J school, were ner with Universal McCann in New York manager for Goodwill Industries in married in June. on the L’Oreal Paris and Johnson & Omaha and attends the University of Johnson accounts. Nebraska at Omaha. She is a foster care 2006 specialist and therapist at Therapeutic KRISTIN JAKUB is assistant vice president Community in Omaha. BRANDON CURTIS, Los Angeles, is colle- of West Gate Bank, Lincoln. She has been DANA SAYLER giate marketing manager for Red Bull with the bank for six years and was previ- and Wylie Osborne were North America in Santa Monica, Calif. He ously the director of marketing. married April 19 in Lincoln. She earned and other Nebraska J school grads in the the M.A. in marketing, communications TOREY JANUS area get together about once a month. graduated in May from the and advertising in 2005 and is the market- University of Nebraska College of Law. She ing and public relations coordinator at CASSIE TONJES HELMING,Johnston, has been a law clerk at Hoppe, Harner, Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital in Iowa, is an administrative specialist for the Vogt & Barrows in Lincoln. Omaha. He is a project manager for Palmer Group in West Des Moines. Graham Construction in Omaha. SUMMER LATHAM is a project manager at KEVIN SHEEN SPENCER MURDOCK, Bassett, is a 1st lieu- Clarity Coverdale Fury, an advertising is director of marketing for tenant and platoon leader for a transporta- agency in Minneapolis. the Lincoln Children’s Museum. Before tion company with the Nebraska National joining the museum, he was a copywriter MARLA RABE Guard in Iraq. The unit’s mission is to pro- and John Grose were mar- and communications coordinator. As vide convoy security (gun trucks) to logis- ried April 5 in Omaha. She is a reporter director of marketing, he is responsible for tical (supply) missions through central with KETV in Omaha, and he is an invest- overseeing the public presence of the and southern Iraq. His platoon includes 43 ment analyst at First National Bank, museum. soldiers from all over the state of Omaha. Nebraska. 2002 BRIAN WYNNE is the publisher of M.D. ANDREW BEIN BEN VANKAT, who works at the Omaha News, Nebraska, a business and lifestyle has been producing the 11 World-Herald, won an award of excellence magazine that covers medical, business p.m. news for WBNS in Columbus, Ohio, in the annual Society for News Design and lifestyle topics. In Nebraska, the mag- since January. Before that, he spent more competition. He won in the category of azine is mailed to 3,000 physicians and than four years in Dayton, Ohio, also pro- Redesigns for his work on a statistics-driv- hospital executives. He previously worked ducing an 11 p.m. newscast. en highlights page for the paper’s 2007 as director of agency programs for ADAM CIELOHA College World Series coverage. Nobrainer, a self-service print communi- and Megan Starzec were cation company. married Oct. 20 in Columbus. He is a sen- 2005 ior affiliate manager at Virtumundo Inc. 2003 She is a document management associate KEVIN FULLER, Lincoln, is a project man- with PRA International. LISA BEHRNS ager at Archrival in Lincoln. He recently and Benjamin Sedivy, BRAD DAVIS served as a judge for the Kentucky and Lincoln, were married June 6 in Waverly. will enter Columbia Missouri Addy Awards. The bride is a corporate communications University’s Graduate School of 54 SUMMER 2008 33 JNews Notes FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

Journalism in August. Since graduation, he married July 26 in Omaha. He is employed and delivery that combines its graphic tool has worked to build his family’s small real as a camera operator at ESPN and ABC with world maps and asset management estate business, The Verdant Companies, Sports. She is a secretary at U.S. Steel Co. software. and was involved in the rehabilitation of a in Gary, Ind. historic downtown Omaha building, the HEIDI PETERSEN is an account executive at Burlington Station. He served as the cam- 2000 SKAR Advertising in Omaha. She previ- paign director for Anne Boyle’s 2004-2005 ously worked as director of business devel- campaign for Omaha City Council. BEANIE BARNES, New York City, earned opment at Signature Performance in In 2005, he moved to New York to an MBA from Yale University in May. She Omaha and as account executive for PR work for fellow Daily Nebraskan alum was a Forte Foundation Fellow and a John Newswire in Washington, D.C. Andrew Broer to build a nationwide dance F. Riddell Fellow at Yale.From 2001-03, she competitions company, Celebrity Dance served in various capacities in the film TANYA WRIGHT, Niagara Falls, N.Y., is the Competitions. In New York, Brad also industry. In 2004, she met her mentor, branch communications coordinator for worked as a copywriter for famed dance Catherine Hardwicke, director of YMCA Buffalo Niagara in New York. After shoemaker Capezio. He wrote the copy for “Thirteen” and “Twilight,” and worked for leaving Lincoln in 2003, she was commu- an international advertising campaign for her on Columbia Pictures’ “Lords of nications coordinator for two years and Conde Nast Publications. His “Get the Dogtown,” first as director’s assistant and then education technical coordinator for Whole Story” campaign appeared in Fall then as associate producer. two years for the National Soccer Coaches 2007 issues of Vogue and W magazines and Association of America in Kansas City, on billboards and taxi tops in New York COURTNEY CHMELKA and Brady Kan. She married JEROD DAHLGREN, a and other cities. Snodgrass were married Dec. 29, 2007, in 2002 J school grad, in October 2006, and Grand Island. She is a clinical technician, they moved to the Buffalo, N.Y., area in DAVID KOESTERS graduated in May from and he is lead network engineer for FNTS June 2007. He is a public relations staff the University of Nebraska College of Law. in the Omaha area. writer at Buffalo State College. He was a law clerk for the American Civil Liberties Union in Lincoln and for the 1999 1998 Nebraska Unicameral. SCOTT CLAYPOOL is part of the Web JODY AMBROZ and Daniel McArdle, both GEOF RENO and Jenifer Ramey were mar- development team at Pickering Creative Minneapolis, were married June 14 in ried June 13 in Kansas City. The groom Group in Lincoln. He is a graphic designer Milwaukee, Wis. The bride is a reporter earned a B.J. in advertising from UNL and whose primary responsibilities are design- with KMSP-TV in Minneapolis. The a B.A. in Education in May from the ing Web site interfaces that are audience groom is an engineer with Parker- University of Missouri-Kansas City. He appropriate and support and promote Hannifin in Minneapolis. will teach elementary school in the Kansas each client’s corporate identity. He also City area in fall. The bride is a registered works on logo designs, corporate commu- JODI HRADEC GRAY is marketing and nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital. nications and trade show exhibit graphics. communications coordinator for Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. 2001 BRYCE GLENN moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to work at the Post Register after PAULA LAVIGNE is an investigative KARISSA ARMSTRONG is a media manag- graduation. He became copy desk chief by reporter/data analyst with ESPN. She is a er at Bozell, an Omaha-based advertising summer 2002 and spent the next couple of member of the enterprise team and con- and public relations agency. She was previ- years gathering experience and plotting his tributes content to ESPN television and ously a senior media planner at California- escape before eventually realizing he loved writes for ESPN.com. She continues to live based NYCA advertising agency. the area and the friends he had made there in Omaha where she had been a reporter — and stayed. for the Des Moines Register. LOREN BYMER is a captain in the U.S. Army. He has been at Fort Bragg, N.C., JENNIFER BORGERDING KLUWICKI 1997 since October 2001 and served as a topo- graduated in May from the University of graphic production platoon leader and Nebraska College of Law. She was a law ANTONE OSEKA and Channon Hunt were company executive officer for a topo- clerk with Wolfe, Snowden, Hurd, Luers & married July 12 in Gretna. He is a copy- graphic engineer company. He then Ahl, Lincoln, and was an adjunct English writer for Cabela’s in Sidney, and she attended the Special Forces qualification faculty member at Southeast Community teaches middle school health at the Gretna course and currently is a detachment com- College, Lincoln, as well as on-air talent for Public Schools. mander for an operational detachment Triad Broadcasting, Lincoln. alpha in the 7th Special Forces Group JENNIFER WINDRUM, Omaha, was fea- (Airborne). He and his wife have one TJ NUCKOLLS, Irvine, Calif., is product tured by the Midlands Business Journal as child. specialist/manager of customer relations one of “40 Under 40” award winners in West Coast for Vizrt in Culver City, Calif. 2007. The awards honor entrepre- ERIC KRANCE and Nichole Walstra were Vizrt offers broadcasters content creation neurs, business owners, managers >>

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 55 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS and professional men and women under gram at Gloucester County College in include “A Fateful Harvest” on 40 years of age. She is public relations Sewell, N.J. He earned the Ed.D. in educa- Afghanistan’s struggle with the opium manager for the Omaha office of Swanson tional administration with a major in edu- trade, and “Risking a Revolution,”an inde- Russell Associates. She previously was a cation leadership and policy studies from pendent documentary on a National general assignment reporter at KMTV Temple University in 2004. He started a Guard unit bound for Iraq. Past work Channel 3, Omaha, and then press secre- small business, Bellmond Educational includes “West Point” a two-hour special tary for Omaha Mayor Hal Daub. She has Services, through which he provides edu- for PBS; “Future is Wild” for Animal also been a freelancer and was a senior cational consultation and motivational Planet; “Great Palaces of the World,” a account executive at Ervin and Smith talks for secondary and post-secondary Learning Channel series produced out of Public Relations before joining Swanson educational institutions. He recently Amsterdam; “Avalanche!” for PBS’s NOVA Russell in 2004. became a grandfather of twins, Shala and series; and “Surviving Everest” for National Xavier. Geographic Television. Jack is a consulting 1995 producer/writer on independent film and MONTE OLSON was featured by the video. Prior to his film career, he was a TAMMY J. ENGLISH was named a certified Midlands Business Journal as one of “40 news desk editor and reporter for Time apartment manager by the Apartment Under 40” award winners in 2007. The magazine in New York and Washington, Association of Greater Omaha and awards honor entrepreneurs, business D.C. Lincoln. She has 11 years of experience in owners, managers and professional men residential property management. and women under 40 years of age. Olson is 1980 senior vice president and director of mar- STEPHANIE L. MITCHELL is a writing spe- keting for TierOne Bank in Lincoln. In that JEFF BARNES, Omaha, is the public rela- cialist for the RIO program at UNL. She position, he provides direction and leader- tions manager for the Orthopaedic recently returned to Nebraska after 14 ship to the marketing team in advertising, Marketing Group in Omaha. His first years in Minnesota. She has a master’s community relations and various types of book, Forts of the Northern Plains, will be degree in creative writing and is complet- marketing. He previously worked for sev- published this summer by Stackpole ing a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis eral major companies in Chicago, includ- Books. The book is a historical travel guide in Somali culture and the feminine experi- ing Bozell Worldwide and Young & to 50 military posts of the Plains Indian ence. She and her husband, Jeffrey Rubicam. He later worked in Los Angeles Wars, covering their history and present Anderson, have three children: Grant, 13; and San Francisco before returning to status, with contemporary photography Laurel, 5; Kjirsten, 1. They live on an Lincoln. and historic images. Sen. Ben Nelson, acreage outside Malcolm. whom Barnes served as the senator’s first 1989 press secretary, wrote the foreword. 1994 HEATHER WRIGHT, Omaha, was featured 1978 KEVIN HYNES has been promoted to by the Midlands Business Journal as one of major with the Nebraska National Guard. the Greater Omaha-Lincoln area Women GERY WHALEN was featured in the Greater He is the editor of the award-winning of Distinction in 2007. She is a senior con- Omaha Business magazine in January. He Nebraska National Guard newspaper, The sultant and senior analyst with The Gallup is director of marketing for HunTel Prairie Soldier. Organization and frequently speaks before Communications. His first job after grad- civic and business groups or gives client uation was as director and producer for a 1992 seminars. She and her husband, Scott, have satellite TV station in Norfolk for the 5-year-old triplets and a 2-year-old son. Nebraska Television Network. Later, he ROBERT PATTERSON was featured by the was executive director of marketing, Midlands Business Journal as one of “40 1984 advertising and public relations for The Under 40” award winners in 2007. The Maids International. He and his wife, Lisa, awards honor entrepreneurs, business BRADLEY C. KUHN, Orlando, Fla., is a sen- have 7-year-old twins, James and Olivia. owners, managers and professional men ior writer with CNL Financial Group Inc. and women under 40 years of age. in Orlando. Patterson is assistant executive director of PEN & TELL Social Settlement of Omaha. He has been 1983 with the group for nine years. He will com- Send us your news plete a master’s degree in management JACK MCDONALD, Cambridge, Mass., is a [email protected] through Bellevue University early next filmmaker who has written, directed and year. produced documentaries for National or contact us Geographic Television, The Discovery CoJMC 1991 Channel, The Learning Channel and PBS. University of Nebraska–Lincoln His Emmy award-winning work includes PO Box 880443 WALTER GHOLSON, Philadelphia, is a fac- history, nature, science, adventure, travel ulty member in the freshman year pro- and current events. Recent productions Lincoln NE 68588-0443

56 SUMMER 2008 ALUMNI NEWS 33 JNews Notes FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

1977 fund in Dewaine’s name has been started Symphony Phil, sold out and is in a second at the J school. printing. He has been doing readings at MIKE WELLS, 59, of Royal, Neb., died in schools and libraries and signings at book- January. He served in the U.S. Navy before DENNIS HETHERINGTON, Las Vegas, stores. earning UNL degrees in print and broad- Nev., retired two years ago. He does free- cast journalism. He was general manager lance writing and edits Sea Stories for the RICHARD “DICK” SCHAFFER, Lincoln, of Reinke’s Farm and City Service in Navy League. He also teaches a 400-level died Jan. 25, 2008. During his time as a Neligh at the time of his death. Survivors course in crisis communication as an student, he worked on the sports desk at include his wife, Janet, two children and adjunct professor in the journalism the Lincoln Journal and also did publicity two stepchildren. department at the University of Nevada, work for the Nebraska Game and Parks Las Vegas. Commission. After graduation, he joined 1976 the PR staff of Ohio Oil Co. and later was 1966 editor of Outdoor Life magazine. He TOBIN BECK is returning to Nebraska as returned to Nebraska to become chief of an assistant professor of global studies at LYNNE GRASZ, president and CEO of information and tourism and editor of Concordia University in Seward. After Grasz Communications in New York City, NEBRASKAland magazine. He served as graduation from UNL, Beck worked at the was named Cather Circle alumnus of the president of the American Association for Sidney,Neb.,Telegraph as sports editor, year for 2007-08. She has served as chair of Conservation Information in 1971. In city editor and acting managing editor Cather Circle board and is currently chair 1972, he developed his own advertising before going to United Press International. of its marketing committee. She offers and promotion agency, from which he During 27 years with UPI he was a corre- Cather Circle student internships in New retired in 2001. spondent in Omaha and Lincoln, York. Grasz was a UNL Master in 1981 and Nebraska state editor in Lincoln, Plains was the college’s outstanding advertising 1940 Region editor in Milwaukee, and alumnus in 2001. She is also former presi- Southeast Region editor in Miami. He held dent of American Women in Radio and HAROLD NIEMANN, Denver, celebrated UPI news management posts in TV and a member of the National his 90th birthday in February with his chil- Washington including managing editor, Advertising Board. dren and grandchildren. A native of senior managing editor and executive edi- Nebraska City, Niemann was editor of the tor. Over the past few years he has edited 1957 Daily Nebraskan in 1939-40, member of history magazines for Weider History the Innocents Society and Acacia Group in Leesburg, Va., and has taught as BEVERLY KEEVER, who teaches at the Fraternity. He was student business man- an adjunct at American University in University of Hawaii at Manoa, plans to ager for the 85-voice Lincoln Cathedral Washington, D.C., and George Mason retire this summer. She recently attended Choir, which sang at the New York World’s University in Fairfax, Va. Tobin and his the 50th reunion of her class from the Fair Ford Pavilion in 1939 and in the wife Ellen, a journalist and realtor, have Columbia University Graduate School of rotunda of the nation’s Capitol. He also one son, J.T., age 16. Journalism. worked part-time as a reporter for the Lincoln Journal and Omaha World-Herald 1971 1955 Lincoln Bureau. In 1941, he became advertising director of Roberts Dairy in Omaha. DEWAINE GAHAN, 58, of Oakland died MARLIN BREE received a first place award During WWII, Niemann was editor of Jan. 31 after a four-year battle with in the 2007 Boating Writers International the Stockton Air Field [Calif.] Twin-Prop melanoma. He worked at the Holdrege Writing Contest for his magazine article, weekly tabloid and, later, the Lowry Field Citizen and Fremont Tribune before “The Old Man & the Inland Sea.” A plaque [Denver] Rev-Meter, which was acclaimed becoming co-owner of the Oakland and a check for $500 was presented at the by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Airforces Independent and Lyons Mirror-Sun. He was Miami Boat Show, Miami Beach, Fla. In to be “the most outstanding base newspa- president of the Nebraska Press addition, Bree’s boat, Persistence, that he per in the continental United States.” Advertising Services in 1994-95 and co- hand built beside his home in Shoreview, In 1946, Niemann founded Hal chairman of the Nebraska Press Minn., and that has been the subject of Niemann Associates, an advertising and Association’s convention committee for 15 numerous magazine articles and books, public relations agency in Denver, which years. In 2007, he was inducted into the was featured on the front cover of the served clients in the media, manufactur- Oakland Hall of Fame and the Nebraska March/April issue of The Ensign.An ing, banking and retail business for more High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was accompanying four-page full color article than 40 years. named the Nebraska Coaches Association followed on inside magazine pages. He has three children, 15 grandchil- Media Person of the Year. In 2008, the dren and 23 great-grandchildren. His Nebraska School Activities Association 1951 wife, HELEN SEVERA NIEMANN, also a gave him a distinguished service award. He journalism major, who worked on the is survived by his wife and co-publisher, ROD RIGGS published his second chil- business-side of the Daily Nebraskan, died Bobbie, and by two sons, a daughter, a dren’s book, Symphony Phil and the Shiny in 2004. grandson and his mother. A scholarship Horns, in January. His first book, ■ J ALUMNI NEWS 57 JNews Notes FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS courtesy Baileyo courtesy Lauerman Phot Audacious, a team of students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, the College of Business Administration and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, placed third in the American Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition District 9 contest April 18. Front row (from left): Advertising professor and team co-adviser Amy Struthers, Minela Jukovic; Middle row (from left): Spencer Shute, Adam Kiser, Hannah Hitchcock, Carley Schnell, Michelle Wiedel, Katie Wisbon, Stephanie Demers, Jessi Wolf, Jessica DeLay, Nicole Starkey; Back row (from left): Brian Hiskey, Dan Sheppard, Luke Miller, Claire Abelbeck, Megan Petratis, Joan Wortman, Nina Graziano, Amber Thomson, Jill Goetz and team co-adviser Rich Bailey. Bailey is the retired CEO of Bailey Lauerman. Not pictured are Robert Tualaulelei, Kate Nilson and Michael Ryan.

ADVERTISING TEAM PLACES THIRD AT NATIONAL COMPETITION The team leaders were: Nicole Starkey, Katie Wisbon and Amber UNL’s team took third at the National for the third year in a row, and Drake Thomson . Amy Struthers was the faculty Student Advertising Competition held in University, Des Moines, was second. sponsor. Omaha in April, sponsored by the UNL’s student involvement went from six Dan Sheppard cr eated a TV spot with American Advertising Federation District people in 2004 to 24 team members this motion graphics that one of the judges 9. The difference among first, second and year. said he would be proud to include on his third places was four points out of 60 total. The assignment was to create a cam- own reel. Four of the students, Starkey, Six schools participated. Webster paign to increase awareness and usage of Sheppard, Carley Schnell and Adam University from St. Louis took first place all AOL Instant Messenger products. Kiser, have internship offers from area professionals who saw their work. ■

FOUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS WIN AMA PRISM AWARDS FRESHMAN PUBLISHES BOOK Stacy James was the teacher in four campaigns classes that won American Marketing Kiley Kinley , who just finished her fresh- Association Prism Awards in May. The Lincoln AMA sponsors the annual Prism Awards. man year at the J school, is the author of More than 20 categories provide organizations — non-profit and for-profit, small and Betwix, which was published by Publish large, individuals and students — the chance to demonstrate marketing excellence. America. She told the Hastings Tribune The winning J school campaigns were: that she began writing the fictional story —Catch the Firefly (City of Lincoln StarTran and DLA) for young people while she was still in —Sustainability: The Color of the Future (Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities) high school at Blue Hill. The book took —Wise Green Apple Teaches Sustainability (Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities) her about 10 months to complete. —Back to Your Life (St. E’s Sports and Physical Therapy) The book is about a girl named Allee Three of the campaigns — “Catch the Firefly,”“Sustainability: The Color of the Future,” Quintin who accidentally stumbles into an and “Back to Your Life” — also won Bronze Quill Awards in the IABC Omaha competition imaginary world called “Betwix” in her in May. ■ own backyard. ■

58 SUMMER 2008 33 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

AD MAJOR WINS COMPETITIVE INTERNSHIP J SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN IN MULTIPLE Rae Moore,a sophomore HEARST COMPETITION CATEGORIES advertising major, has been Two J school students earned medals in Sixty-eight entrants from 39 under- selected to par- the 48th annual Hearst Journalism graduate journalism programs partici- ticipate in the Awards finals in San Francisco in June. pated. Multicultural One hundred eight journalism schools Maggie Stehr, 1st place, feature asanova Agency participated in the 2007-08 competi- writing competition. n-C eo Internship tion. Maika Bauerle, 2nd place, televi- uis P Program In San Francisco, Michael Paulsen sion competition. through the placed second in the photojournalism Michael Paulsen, 3rd place, photo by L o by American championship, winning $4,000 for his competition. Phot Association of efforts. Andrew Stewart, 5th place, person- Advertising Agencies. Moore was offered Maika Bauerle finished third in the ality profile writing competition. a 10-week paid internship in account broadcast news championship, taking Brittany Jones-Cooper, 6th place, management at Hill Holiday in Boston. home $3,000. broadcast feature competition. Lourdes Almazon won a spot in the Brittany Jones-Cooper was a Joel Gehringer, 9th place, in-depth same program last year but declined the broadcast news semi-finalist and writing competition. internship. received a $1,000 award. Katie Nieland, 11th place, spot The MAIP includes mentoring by top Cash prizes and medallions are news writing. professionals in the advertising business.■ awarded based on the accumulation of Josh Swartzlander, 12th place, edi- points from all four divisions, including torial writing competition. the new multimedia competition. Juan Perez, 13th place, in-depth STUDENTS TAKE ADDY AWARDS Overall, UNL finished in sixth writing competition. place. The J school was fifth in writing T eresa Prince, 15th place, picture Advertising major Dan Sheppard earned a and seventh in photojournalism. story/series competition. Silver ADDY in the television category on Individual Nebraska award winners Andrew Boyle, 16th place, broad- work he did for client JVC. in the 2007-08 competition were as fol- cast feature competition. Julia Stumkat and Shannon Cross lows: Chris VanKat, 20th place, picture received a Silver ADDY for photography. Teresa Prince, 12th place tie, first story/series competition. ■ Their client was Harley Davidson. ■ ever Hearst multimedia competition.

WILKERSON PLACES FIRST Another strong showing At the March Northwest Broadcast News uietly, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln continues to collect plau- Association’s Midwest Journalism dits for its College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Conference in Minneapolis, Jeff This month, students from UNL helped the college finish sixth Wilkerson’s radio long form report, overall in the national Hearst Journalism Awards competition. It “Breaking the Ice,” won first place in the Q marked the college’s fifth straight year among the nation’s 10 best ■ student radio sports reporting category. program performances. The Hearst competition involves Pulitzer Prize-level contests for student journalists, with award winners selected in writing, broadcasting, multimedia production and photography. HASKELL RECEIVES CATHER UNL offers strong preparation for hundreds of high-quality reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, public relations professionals and advertising direc- CIRCLE AWARD tors. The staffs of newspapers, radio stations and television stations are peppered Sarah Haskell, a member of Cather Circle with hard-working graduates, as are the payrolls of other industries and firms. since 2006, was named Cather Circle These graduates work in towns small and large, from weekly newspapers in the Student of the Year for 2007-08. An adver- Midlands to the New York Times, from KDUH-TV in Scottsbluff, Neb., to CNN in tising major, Haskell has worked as the Atlanta. Many staffers at The World-Herald trace their professional roots to the state Cather Circle-funded intern in the J university’s Lincoln campus. school since 2006. She also serves on the Few schools outside of the journalistic elite can claim such a high level of consis- Student Alumni Association board of tency in an ever-changing field. That might make UNL’s journalism college elite to the directors, is an ambassador for the college eyes of outsiders, but to those in the business, the school’s stature is evident in the and the university and is a member of Chi consistently high quality of student the college produces. Omega sorority. She plans to graduate in 2009 >> This editorial appeared in the May 26 Omaha World-Herald and is reprinted by permission. 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 59 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS J SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE TOP SPOTS IN TWO J SCHOOL STUDENTS HONORED BY UWIRE 100 PHOTO CONTEST Katie Steiner and Brittany Jones-Cooper Omaha; and a story about astronaut Clayton were named part of the UWIRE 100 by Anderson, a Nebraska native. Michael Paulsen w as named photog- UWIRE, a cooperative wire service for col- Jones-Cooper, who graduated in May, rapher of the year and Chris VanKat lege newspapers. The 100 student journalists was a field reporter for NikeWomen.com. was runner-up in the student division named to the list were among more than 500 Dorinda Ross, advertising and digital man- of the Nebraska News Photographers nominated by their peers and advisers at the ager for Nike’s Women’s Training in the U.S., Association’s annual still photo contest papers. said in a press release that when the Web site in April. Steiner, who just completed her sopho- was looking for a field reporter, “one voice Other J school student winners more year, is a senior reporter at The Daily rang out from the masses. One girl’s person- were: Nebraskan. Katie Nieland, DN managing ality, qualifications and ‘it’ factor differenti- Michael Paulsen, 1st and honor- editor, was quoted in UWIRE’s press release ated her from all others: Brittany Jones- able mention in pictorial; 1st in illus- that “Katie Steiner is the type of person who Cooper.” tration; 1st and 3rd in sports feature; will walk right up to the governor of the Some of Jones-Cooper’s highlighted 2nd in sports action; honorable men- state and tap him on the shoulder. She’s work included: an interview with champion tion in general news; 1st and 2nd in polite about it but won’t take no for an swimmer Maritza Correia in Tampa; stories picture story; 2nd in feature; honor- answer. She’s what every college journalist she worked during All-Star weekend in New able mention in portrait/personality should be — tireless, precise and hungry for Orleans; her summer as an intern on “CBS Chris VanKat, 1st, 2nd and hon- more stories.” Evening News with Katie Couric”; and a orable mention in portrait/personali- Some of Steiner’s biggest stories for the story about monks from the Dreupung ty; 1st in sports action; 2nd in illustra- DN during the 2007-08 school year were: a Monastery in Georgia who travel the world tion; 1st and 2nd in multiple picture, story about the Nebraska Legislature’s constructing mandala sand paintings. package; honorable mention in picture debate over prohibiting illegal immigrants UWIRE selected its top 100 on the basis story from receiving in-state tuition in the univer- of their dedication to journalism, the quali- Teresa Prince, 1st and 3rd in spot sity or state college system; a story about the ty of their work, the depth of their experi- news; 1st, 2nd and honorable mention December shootings at West Roads Mall in ence and the strength of their references. ■ in general news; 1st, 3rd and honorable mention in feature; 2nd in picto- LIEDING SCHOLARSHIPS HELP J SCHOOL STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD rial; honorable mention in illustration and sports feature; 3rd in multiple pic- Ten students in the journalism college abroad and the appropriateness of the pro- ture, package; 3rd in picture story received a total of $15,000 in support of posed program. Anna Mostek , 3rd in portrait/per- international travel. The journalism students’ awards ranged sonality; 3rd in illustration; honorable The scholarships were established by a from $550 to $3,000. mention in sports action 2004 gift from the late Christian Lieding. Cristin Johnson, advertising, Morgan C lay Lomneth , honorable men- The program is designed to encourage aca- Demmel and Andrew Mach, broadcasting, tion in portrait/personality; 2nd and demic exchanges between UNL and foreign and T anna Kimmerling and B rett Lahm, honorable mention in sports feature educational institutions with special empha- news-ed, will study in Germany. M att Buxton , 3rd in pictorial sis on Germany and German-speaking uni- Lisa Herman, advertising, will study in Omaha-based freelance photo- versities. France. journalist Alyssa Schukar won Students who received the 2008 awards Andrew Guiney and Teresa Lostroh, Nebraska Photographer of the Year in were selected based on their academic advertising, and Sara McCue and Katie ■ the professional division. Omaha record, financial need, potential to succeed Stearns, news-ed, will study in Spain. World-Herald photographer Matt Miller was the runner-up. Miller and STUDENTS EARN OPC AWARDS DOCUMENTARY WINS AWARDS Schukar are both J school grads. Three news-ed majors earned awards in the “Breaking Down Barriers” won first place in The judges were New York-based Omaha Press Club’s annual Excellence in Documentary/Special in the student market editorial and commercial photojour- Journalism competition. TV category at the March Northwest nalist Vincent Laforet, Ho uston Brady Jones won second place in maga- Broadcast News Association “Midwest Chronicle photojournalist Smiley N. zine layout and design for “Renovating the Journalism Conference” in Minneapolis. Pool, Las Vegas-based freelance photo- Republic,” the Germany depth report maga- In addition, it was a Region 2 finalist for journalist Laura Rauch and San Jose zine. the Student Academy Awards. And it won an Mercury News photojournalist Dai Jones and Teresa Prince won an honor- Award of Excellence in the 2007 Student Sugano. Pool, Laforet, Sugano and able mention for magazine cover design for Documentary Competition sponsored by Rauch also spoke at the Savage Renovating the Republic. the Broadcast Education Association. Seminar, a photojournalism workshop Kyle Harpster won an honorable men- Awards of Excellence are presented to entries named after former Omaha World- tion for magazine feature story for his article that earn 90 points or more from a total of ■ Herald p hotographer John Savage. on Checkpoint Charlie in “Renovating the 100 possible points; “Breaking Down Republic.” ■ Barriers” had a final score of 93.25 points. ■ 60 SUMMER 2008 J ALUMNI NEWS 33 JNews Notes FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

By CHARLYNE BERENS Once the state-controlled economy collapsed, Hodbod said, the new Czech Republic — like the rest of the former ulia Stumkat was 9 years old Soviet bloc — was flooded with new when the Berlin Wall fell and the brands and products. People who were Cold War thawed in 1989. Jakub used to buying the only product available J Hodbod, who lived in what was had trouble coping with all the choices fac- then Czechoslovakia, was only 4. ing them. But both of these members of Chuck Today, though, the Czech economy is Piper’s spring semester Advertising flourishing, and so is the Czech advertising Management class understand fully what a industry. When global companies entered difference the collapse of the Soviet Union the Czech market, global ad agencies fol- made to their people and their way of life. lowed, and dozens of smaller specialized What they don’t remember themselves, firms also sprang up. they have heard often enough from their Piper said both Stumkat and Hodbod parents and other family members. did hour-long PowerPoint presentations They brought that firsthand experi- for the class, narrating the changes in their ence to their final projects for the class, societies and economies and how those writing a paper and making a presentation influenced advertising and branding. on how marketing and branding changed Stumkat, a graduate student, began her undergraduate education at the University of Rostok but transferred to the From planned to demand University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2002, where she earned a degree in news-editorial and sociology in 2006. She worked as an assistant producer at NTV in Kearney for a International students highlight the way year, then began her graduate work at UNL in 2007 in the marketing-communi- advertising changed in their nations when the cations-advertising program. Once she finishes her M.A. in May Eastern Bloc crumbled in the 1990s 2009, Stumkat would like to find an advertising job in the United States, but she after 1989 in nations that had been part of would also be content to return to Europe. the Soviet bloc. “Since globalization is going on, I think I’d Stumkat, who is from Rostok, a city have good chances here, in Germany or in on the Baltic Sea in northeast Germany, another country,” she said. said Communist East Germany had little Hodbod spent 2007-08 at the J school need for advertising because there wasn’t as an undergrad exchange student and much to buy. “My dad said there were a mann returned to the Czech Republic in May. He few ads,” she said, “but products didn’t planned to finish his political science compete” for customers. Whatever adver- degree this summer and his advertising tising there was simply explained how peo- degree in December at Charles University ple could use a product. in Prague. And those products were generally Hodbod said he was able to study at

low price and low quality, Stumkat said. Hacht Frauke os courtesy UNL during the past year because he was The only place East Germans could buy awarded the Paul Robitschek Scholarship, Phot Western goods was in the “intershops,” JULIA STUMKAT established by a Nebraskan of Czech her- built especially for the use of West itage. He hopes to return to the J school to Germans who came to visit. Those prod- do graduate work. ucts may have been better quality, but they Hodbod showed commercials from the “I had an incredible experience here,” were also very expensive — too expensive Communist years, commercials created by he said. “I had great classes with great for the average East German. the government to advertise entire com- teachers.” The situation was much the same in modity categories like milk or cabbage or Piper retired from his position as vice Czechoslovakia, Hodbod said.“The lives of other products created by state-owned president strategic services at Bailey several generations were crucially changed companies. He also showed some com- Lauerman in 2005 and has taught two by the state-controlled planned economy,” mercials that air in the Czech Republic classes per semester since then. he said. “No competition in the market today. “This class is always a joy to begin meant basically no advertising at all.” “It was fascinating,”Piper said. “It was with,” he said, “and having these foreign During his class presentation, such a huge difference.” students has just made it extraordinary.” ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 61 C o J M C DEEP

t’s safe to say Aaron Price made a good decision. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln senior is majoring in natural resources management and environmental Ieconomics, but a book by J school lecturer Carolyn Johnsen inspired him to dive into a large journalism project.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx “I read Carolyn’s book, Raising a Stink,” Price said. “I was interviewing for a position at the attorney general’s office at the time, but then I met with Carolyn. She told me about the depth project because I was talking about my agricultural and environmental interests. She told me I should apply to be a part of the report, and I did. It’s helped me become a better student and writer and helped inform me on a subject that I really care a lot about.” The subject Price is referring to is EXAMINING ethanol, the topic of UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications latest depth report. Each year, the J school THE MAGIC faculty brainstorms topics for the next depth report. Ten to 15 ideas are typically cut down to one final issue. Once ethanol BULLET was chosen, Johnsen, news-editorial professor Joe Starita and Michael Farrell, manager of television production for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, led a By TYLER BASSINGER group of dedicated students through an exhaustive examination of the ethanol phenomenon. “Everyone is concerned with energy issues,” Starita said. “Many people consider including John Carter of the Nebraska ethanol a magic bullet that can do a number of things that can help wean us off our Historical Society; Ken Cassman, the reliance on foreign oil, revitalize rural communities, help the economically depressed director of UNL’s Center for Energy Corn Belt and give consumers a more practical energy source. It was all unfolding right in Sciences Research; and Todd Sneller, the our backyard. The consensus was, ‘What’s not to like about this?’” director of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. Under the direction of Starita and Johnsen, six UNL students began working to cre- Students toured ethanol plants and ate a 75-page, full-color magazine that would thoroughly inform readers about the multi- interviewed farmers around the state. In ple facets of ethanol, including the scientific, economic, political and environmental impli- September, Johnsen accompanied three cations of its use. Each student was assigned two long in-depth pieces, one short story and students to the National Conference of the sidebars. The time-consuming and strenuous work made recruiting the right students Society of Environmental Journalists at important, and Johnsen said she felt good about the faculty’s choices. Stanford University to hear scientists talk “We were looking for students who were willing to work hard and commit a year to a about energy and climate change and to project that couldn’t be done in any other way,”Johnsen said.“They were ready for it. They meet professional journalists covering the were hard workers, good writers and they were interested in the topic. We had a dynamite topics. team.” Two documentary students and NET Farrell and veteran NET producer Perry Stoner led a group of four other students videographer Ray Meints also made the working with NET Television to co-produce an hour-long documentary about ethanol trip to California to interview several cli- issues. The broadcasting students started in the spring of 2007, shooting footage of farm- mate and energy scientists at Berkeley and ers working in cornfields and other seasonally dependent material. The majority of the Stanford. Perry Stoner took students to the footage, including all the interviews, had been shot by the time the spring semester com- Argonne Labs in Illinois and to the Ford menced, and students then edited and created individual segments of 10-15 minutes for plant in Kansas City to investigate the the documentary. range of alternative energy sources and When school resumed in August, all 10 students of the “E-team” took the NEWS 401 vehicles. class as a group. They read Paul Roberts’ End of Oil to get a grasp on the history of the fuel Starita said exhausting all imaginable that ethanol is intended to supplement. The group also brainstormed story topics for the angles, digging up reliable documents and magazine and voted on which ones to pursue. Students heard from speakers as well, finding every important source was vital to 62 SUMMER 2008 33 ethanol: salvation or damnation?

the ultimate goal of the project. summer under the title “Ethanol: Salvation “We wanted to give the members of the Depth report looks at or Damnation?” Advertising faculty mem- public a substantial amount of information ber Adam Wagler and student Emily Reese on a topic that is important to their lives,” ethanol’s costs, benefits created a Web site for the project as well. he said. “We wanted to give them a very Senior Alex Haueter, who designed thorough amount of information that had graphic elements for the magazine, said been researched, nicely structured and material. We had to compress it down to an participating in the year-long process was beautifully written on this topic.” hour and decide which topics are going to beneficial. The print and broadcasting students get the most time.” “We get a finalized project that comes separated during the second semester, as the Post-production on the documentary with a reputation,”Haueter said. “The jour- print group continued to develop its stories began in April, and the broadcast students nalism college has produced several depth and the broadcast students wrote their worked actively with the NET Television reports that have been well-received, so scripts and edited material for the docu- staff in the process. The print reporters pol- there’s always the possibility that you’re mentary. Writing students adhered to strict ished their stories. As the semester neared going to have something to show employers deadlines for each story. In early April, the its end, professors reminded students to that you can be proud of. It wasn’t just a print stories were given to the advanced make the material meaningful to everyone. class project; it was a publication.” editing class for further editing. “There were two key questions: What is Starita said the completed report ful- Broadcasting students completed this story about, and why should anybody filled the purpose of journalism. shooting their segments and edited them care?” Starita said.“We needed to continual- “What I’m most proud of is that we with the NET Television crew. Then they ly find ways to connect the report to real have provided essential information on an faced the challenge of cutting the show people. We had to make people care about extremely important topic,” Starita said. down to an hour. this story, or it would have been a fruitless “Our report was balanced and thorough, so “This was a really dense television pro- exercise.” a reader cannot be manipulated due to the gram with a lot of stuff going into it,”Farrell The documentary “Ethanol Maze” lack of an education on the topic. Educating said. “You could have put two hours of aired on NET in June, and the magazine is everyone is a vital part of journalism and material on and not have exhausted the scheduled to be published at the end of the democracy.” ■ 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 63 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

simple question asked by advertising faculty: “How can we better serve the needs of the industry?” In response to that question, advertising professor Amy Struthers, Dean Norton and John Maher, publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star developed a three-hour class that meshed a class atmosphere with real world experience. The Tuesday afternoon class met in the downtown office of the Lincoln Journal Star and was taught by Struthers and Shawna Hilbert, regional human resource manager for Lee Enterprises. It featured a l Norton Jr. l Norton

il variety of guest speakers, including repre- W sentatives from Lamar outdoor advertis- ean ing, Gallup and Three Eagles radio.

by D o by The aim of the class was to teach the six students the skills they would need to Phot Cristin Johnson, Meredith Rogers, Audrey Beaver, Matt Gardner, Lucas Miller and Katie Chadek flew to meet the challenges and opportunities that Lee Enterprises headquarters on Lee’s private jet to present the results of an “on demand” text project the Internet’s blending of print and broadcast have brought to the sales field. The class gave students lab credit for a 20-hour-a-week internship with the Lincoln Journal Star’s advertising depart- Selling change ment and added the possibility they may be placed in full-time positions with Lee Enterprises upon graduation. When the service becomes functional, Cooperation of this type between uni- Journal Star joins forces users will be allowed to subscribe through versities and the private sector is increas- with J school to develop a Web site to receive daily updates or can ing, Struthers said. She added that she is text the J ournal Star t o get information glad the J school found this way to add an interactive approach about a specific restaurant or type of food. work experience to college life and Users also will be able to access coupons increase students’ involvement in their to advertising for the restaurant of their choice. chosen field. The class and Dean Will Norton flew Junior advertising major Luke Miller By TIM SVOBODA aboard Lee Enterprises’ corporate jet April said he was happy with the class. “The 29 to the company’s headquarters in focus of the class was the real world appli- an’t remember the name of Davenport, Iowa. The presentation of the cation of ad campaigns. that new restaurant you text marketing project got rave reviews “It was a wonderful experience,” heard about? Wondering from the CEO of Lee Enterprises, Mary Miller said. “It definitely sparked an inter- what’s going on at the Lied Junck, and a number of other corporate est in me.” C employees. Hilbert said the relationship is benefi- Center? Looking for a career change? Thanks to a new advertising class, “I was very impressed with the quali- cial to both UNL and Lee Enterprises. The Lincolnites may soon have a new ally in ty of people in the class” said Vito Kuraitis, class not only lets students explore adver- solving these problems. vice president of human relations at Lee tising opportunities outside of agencies Titled “Media Sales in a Changing Enterprises, “but also with the profession- but also is a great way for Lee Enterprise to Environment,” the class is a hands-on alism of the presentation.” find sales talent, she said. cooperative venture among the University Kuraitis said the presentation far “We’re thrilled, Amy [Struthers] is of Nebraska–Lincoln, the Lincoln Journal exceeded anyone’s expectation and that thrilled, and the students have a great Star and Lee Enterprises, a publisher of Lee would be more than happy to consid- opportunity,” Hilbert said. more than 50 daily and 300 weekly papers er any of the students for full-time posi- Lee recently announced plans to con- in 23 states including the Journal Star. tions. He added that the company was so tinue the class for at least two more semes- The class developed an “on demand” pleased with the work of the UNL class ters. text product that will allow the user to that Lee has begun pursuing a similar rela- “It’s just a good way to start ideas,” question the Lincoln Journal Star about tionship with other papers and correspon- Kuraitis said. “We get both the benefit of food, entertainment or employment in ding universities in Madison, Wis., and St. product development and a closer rela- Lincoln and allow the newspaper to focus Louis, Mo. tionship with the university. Hopefully, the its responses to spotlight its advertisers. The genesis of the class arose from a program will go on for a long time.” ■ 64 SUMMER 2008 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS Getting real

New class sponsored by the World-Herald will help get students ready for a running start

By CHELSEY MANHART director of content initiatives at the paper gain experience similar to that of a real and Frank Partsch, former World-Herald newspaper reporting job. o you’ve faith- editorial page editor — will help boost col- “The journalism college really stresses fully attended J laboration between the newspaper and the internships and work experience,” UNL school classes college. news-editorial professor Charlyne Berens S for several Gottschalk said the program is meant said. “The fellowships are wonderful years, and to give students professional training that opportunities to get that experience.” you’ve practiced interviewing and report- most don’t learn until they are out of col- Fellowship participants will be ing and writing. You’ve learned the basics lege and in their first jobs. expected to write two stories each week to of photojournalism and design. You even “We are going to help move the stu- be published by the World-Herald, in print know the difference between “lie” and dents a couple of notches up the experi- or online or both. The newspaper will pay “lay.”You’re getting a great preparation for ence ladder before they leave their aca- the students $100 per week plus a $2,500 a media career — but it’s still not quite the demic institution,” Gottschalk said. “This scholarship upon completion of the fel- real world. is a transition between study and the lowship. Enter the Omaha World-Herald with a workplace.” “We want students to get a real feel for remedy for that deficiency. Different Omaha World-Herald staff the paid production of the news,” The World-Herald and the University members will give presentations during Gottschalk said. “They need to get as close of Nebraska–Lincoln College of each weekly session of the seminar, cover- to a real work environment as they can Journalism and Mass Communications are ing topics such as interviewing techniques, get.” working together to provide UNL students working with a new boss and finding a bal- Partsch said the program will help with a new opportunity to gain real-world ance between a career and a personal life. students prepare for their first real jobs in journalism experience starting this fall. The one-credit-hour course will be offered journalism. A program developed by the Omaha to 20 selected junior and senior applicants “The more actual workplace condi- World-Herald will introduce UNL journal- beginning in the 2008 fall semester. tions you can have, the better,” Partsch ism students to professional practices and Also under the plan, four senior news- said. “I think every student should be standards of newspaper reporting through editorial students who have completed the interested in this opportunity.” a seminar offered each semester at the col- seminar will be selected each semester for Carson Vaughan, who will be a mem- lege of journalism titled “The Real World.” fellowships at the O maha World-Herald, ber of the inaugural class in fall ’08, said he “This is an excellent opportunity for starting in the spring of 2009. Through the was looking forward to it: “As lame as it students,” said Will Norton, dean of the J fellowships, organizers said, students will sounds, the future kind of scares me. The school. “It’s a way for our students to get Real World class appealed to me because an understanding of practicing in a media balancing my social and personal life with outlet from the point of view of an a career in journalism is something I Omaha World-Herald employ- think and fret about much too ee.” often. Norton said the “I’m confident that program — which I will adjust, but it was initiated and would be helpful developed by to know a cou- John Gotts- ple tricks of chalk, chair- the trade man of the b e f ore Omaha jumping World- into the Herald, dark.” Larry ■ King,

J ALUMNI NEWS 65 JNews Notes FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS

irst, strange green blobs appeared in classrooms and and being active.” The proposition was this: hallways, on bathroom mirrors and windshields and They would enlist students called white boards.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx “buzz agents” to carry out the campaign, Then, even stranger things began happening. which would be divided into four month- F long parts. Students dancing the hallways or handing out fruits — THE STEALTH PHASE: placing odd and vegetables at lunch. For free, with no explanation. And green blobs and catch-phrases around the school to catch students’ attention and get always, with buttons or signs with the same words: them wondering. “Whatcha doin? How you do it is up to you.” — THE STABILITY BALL PHASE: putting Very random. green stability balls in classrooms for students to sit on. And having buzz agents Very odd. wearing “Whatcha Doin” buttons perform And only at certain schools. East High. Bryan Community. random acts designed to surprise their peers, to get them talking. The Science Focus Program. Lincoln High. — THE CARDBOARD CUTOUT PHASE: What was going on here? Placing funny, life-size cardboard cutouts around the school: a guy pounding an By MARGARET REIST LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR Peer-to-peer marketing campaign ott

Lincoln students learn by Hailey Abb Hailey os by

to create healthy habits Phot

Were the green blobs contagious? No, this teenage group needs a special ▲ ABOVE: Lincoln High students (from left) Hailey Abbott hopes so, as does Holly approach. No lectures. Forget the food Rebekah Hawkins, Krysta Sackett, Emma Hoppe Dingman and a group of high school stu- and Kristen Obermueller participate in the pyramids. Don’t even think about an exer- Action for Healthy Kids Summit at Lincoln’s dents bent on changing their peers’ behav- cise log. downtown Holiday Inn on April 15. The summit ior. “The campaign (goal) was to make was coordinated by Nebraska’s Health and This, you see, is all part of a plan. A fruit and vegetables and activities some- Human Services agency and includes a public- very well-thought out, calculated idea con- thing fun and cool to do,”said Abbott, who private partnership of more than 30 organiza- trived to encourage healthy habits in high tions and government agencies. Its goal is to helped create the green blob concept. improve the nutrition and physical activity of school students. Abbott and her classmates in a senior- youth. And when you’re talking marketing level advertising class at the University of ◆▲ AT RIGHT: One of the three billboards devel- demographics, they’re not an easy bunch Nebraska–Lincoln came up with the idea oped for the campaign was displayed for one to reach. Not when the topic is carrots and as part of a final project. month at 38th and South streets in Lincoln. broccoli. HHS brought the challenge to the Dingman, a nutrition coordinator class, and Abbott and her group decided apple with a baseball bat to make apple- with the state Department of Health and the best approach was to use high school sauce, another eating a salad burger and a Human Services, said exercise and healthy students to spread the word themselves. third snowboarding with a pug dog sitting eating campaigns rarely target students They wanted students to realize they could on the board. who can drive to McDonald’s for lunch, find their own path to a healthier lifestyle. — THE VIDEO PHASE: short videos and have prom or football or speech or “We want this to be the socially cool showing up on school computers and tele- finals or all of the above on their minds. thing to do,” Abbott said, “being out there visions. And a video contest for students

66 SUMMER 2008 ALUMNI NEWS 33 FACULTY PROFILE ALUMNI STUDENT HONORS where the prize was getting your spot aired “That was almost the best part important,” she said. on Cable TV. because we knew we were behind it,” she Each school is carrying out the cam- HHS employees in the nutrition said.“They’d say,‘Did you see that blob?’ It paign slightly differently. At the Focus department liked the idea so much they was great. It was really great.” Program, for example, Key Club members wanted to do it. At Lincoln High, rumors began to fly: are running the campaign. At Lincoln For real. The department allocated it was Nickelodeon coming to film at High, it’s student council. $20,000 to implement the campaign this Lincoln High, or an MTV show and who- The UNL students gave the schools year. ever collected the most stickers got to be suggestions for random acts, but told stu- Abbott, a fifth-year senior, was hired on the show. dents they could come up with their own. as the coordinator. She sent queries to all “There was almost a black market of At Lincoln High, students doing high schools in Lincoln and Crete. Four stickers,” said Malinda Burk, a Lincoln impromptu dances between classes Lincoln schools responded. High science teacher and student council encouraged people to check out the cam- Teacher contacts helped recruit stu- sponsor. paign’s Web site. dents. And a pilot project was born. But the mystery was a good thing, said “When someone dances by and tells Rachael Pickerel, a senior at East who Julie Kempkes, a Lincoln High ninth-grad- you to go to a Web site, it makes you curi- wants to study marketing at UNL next er helping with the campaign. ous,” Kempkes said. year, didn’t hesitate. “I think it’s a good idea for students to About a week ago, Pickerel and her “Of course, I was all over it,” she said. kind of be surprised by it and not feel like cohorts at East did a “cheesy skit” over the “It’s what I’m all about.” they’re being lectured and told to do some- intercom and let students know just what they were about and what all the green blobs meant. More traditional forms of advertising are a part of the campaign, too: billboards and slides at movie theaters. But Tucker said having teenagers themselves spread the word is the most effective. “I think that’s the secret,” she said. “I’ve always said that, peers teaching peers or modeling for peers is WATCH THE VIDEOS always best.” Dingman said she In May, the teen wellness campaign created by one of A panel of public health, communication, market- was impressed that the the advertising campaigns classes moved into the ing and advertising specialists was asked to vote on UNL students took video contest phase. its top three Whatcha doin? videos. In addition, the their ideas to high Local high school students created 30-second three videos that receive the most online votes will school focus groups spots and are competing for prizes and an opportuni- receive awards recognizing their popularity. All that were very honest ty get their creations on the air next fall when the cam- award-winning videos will be aired on cable TV as part about what worked paign expands. The videos were to reflect the main of the campaign. See the videos atxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and what didn’t. messages of the “Whatcha doin?” campaign: that That helped the healthy food and physical activity are not only good http://www.whatchadoin.org/videoContest/ campaign stay edgy. for you but can also be fun. index.html That means, if you’re pushing 40 or already crested that Others in Jan Tucker’s East High thing,” she said. “We’re just nudging them hill, if you think a pug dog named Wallace health class joined in. They came up with in the right direction.” is an odd mascot, if you just don’t get the their own random acts. They surrepti- Emma Hoppe, a ninth-grader at the green blobs and a German YouTube video tiously put up green blobs, they served Science Focus Program, said she hopes of a bunch of people making an orchestra fruit cups at lunch. students will respond to the nudging, at out of vegetables, don’t worry. And they listened to their classmates least for a little while. Ask your kids. They’ll get it. ■ wonder what the heck was going on. “I think what they’re trying to do is

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 67 |Looking back Each fall, UNL honors employees who are cele- This particular batch of news, below, is what brating a number of years at the university that Alloway read at the Employee Service Awards is divisible by five — five years, 10 years, 15 on Aug. 30, 2007. He credits Rosalinda Barajas years and so forth. Broadcasting faculty mem- Ramirez, staff assistant in the UNL human ber Rick Alloway is the emcee for the awards resources office, for helping gather the raw his- presentation, and he kicks off the festivities by torical data from which he wrote his commen- reading a summary of the news in each of the tary. anniversary years

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 WE BEGIN IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT PAST — 2002. Much of the national news that year had an uneasy Minority leader. edge. The world was still trying to regain balance We lost singers Rosemary Clooney and Peggy after the events of September 11 of the previous Lee in 2002, also choral leader Ray Conniff; Thor year. President George Bush created the Department Heyerdahl, who explored Polynesia; and Milton of Homeland Security to guard against terrorism. Berle, who explored the new genre of the television With 170,000 employees, it represented the largest comedy show. Chuck Jones, who gave us Bugs reorganization of the federal government in half a Bunny and Daffy Duck, died that year too, along century. with actors Richard Harris and Dudley Moore, TV As for threats away from the homeland, news man Howard K. Smith, Wendy’s founder Dave President Bush vowed to work with Congress in any Thomas, film director Billy Wilder, and publisher, military dealings with Iraq. And 180 people died in philanthropist and art collector Walter Annenberg. the bombing of a packed nightclub in Bali — a ter- Locally, Lincoln’s expansion continued with the rorist attack mounted by a group many of us had opening of the Walt & Eiseley branch libraries and never heard of just a few scant months before: Al Lincoln Southwest High School. New skate parks in Qaeda. NATO expanded that year, adding seven Tierra Park and Peter Pan Park allowed skaters to try ’02 more countries, and the United Nations grew as all kinds of new stunts, while drivers who always well, when Switzerland became a member, ending its wondered what hamsters feel like on those exercise long-held neutrality. Folks wheels came a little closer to finding out when a new in 12 European countries roundabout opened at 33rd and Sheridan. Its appar- had to get used to new cur- ent success prompted questions about where future rency as the Euro was intro- exercise wheels — er — roundabouts — might be duced as part of a unifica- placed. tion effort. On campus, a new athletic director took the For weeks, residents in helm when UNL alum Steve Pederson returned to the Washington, D.C., area campus. The Husker baseball team traveled to the lived in fear as the “D.C. College World Series for the second straight year. sniper” attacks killed 10 and The E.N. Thompson Forum welcomed to the wounded three others. John Lied Center stage a wide range of speakers, including Allen Muhammed and John singer Bono of the group U2 and actress Ashley Lee Malvo were eventually Judd. The university’s president, Dennis Smith, arrested in connection with received the Scientific Freedom and Responsibility those shootings. Award from the American Association for the Photo courtesy University Archives and Special Collections The world rejoiced at Advancement of Science. the rescue of nine miners It was also the year that newspaper boxes ▲ ASHLEY JUDD from a shaft in Pennsylvania. They’d been trapped showed up all over campus as the university’s new and BONO were for three days nearly 240 feet below ground. And “newspaper readership program” started putting welcomed to the Democrat Nancy Pelosi became the first women to four daily papers into the hands of students, faculty Lied Center lead a party in Congress when she was elected House and staff. ■

68 SUMMER 2008 ALUMNI NEWS 33 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1997 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA WAS ON THE MOVE — to the second tier in US News & World Report’s 11th annual collection of “America’s Best Colleges.” It was a year of other accomplishments on campus as well. The College of Business Administration was honored for the second straight year by Success magazine as one of the “25 Best Business Schools” for entrepreneurs. The satellite operations center at Nebraska Public Television was named the national “Uplinker Of The Year,” and Nebraska Public Radio’s news and public affairs series Nebraska Nightly won two national journalism awards. The University’s Technology Park “business incubator” opened for business, while atop the newly completed stadium parking garage, a high- tar powered telescope was installed after years of plan- nal S ning. Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King spoke to ur an audience here in the Lied Center. Jo oln It was the year Mother Theresa died. And so did inc the architect of the Nebraska football program, Bob Devaney. His successor, Tom Osborne, shocked the state that same year by announcing it was time to L o courtesy pursue something other than coaching. ■ Phot ▲ WILLY NELSON and an all-star line-up at Farm Aid III performed 1992 at Memorial Stadium on the University of Nebraska campus in 1987 ’92 WAS A YEAR OF INTERNATIONAL TURMOIL. THE Federal Republic of Yugoslavia collapsed after more than 70 years. American forces entered Somalia to 1987 try to ensure proper distribution of food to those 1987 WAS A YEAR IN WHICH AMERICANS LEARNED starving due to civil war. In India, Hindu destruc- some new words. Soviet Secretary Mikhail tion of a mosque led to two months of Hindu- Gorbachev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan Muslim rioting that claimed thousands of lives. signed the INF treaty to reduce nuclear stockpiles, ’87 The U.S., Canada and Mexico signed onto the and we all learned that perestroika meant restructur- North American Free Trade Agreement, establishing ing and glasnost meant openness. the world’s largest trading block, and in other signs That glasnost got put to a different test as Oliver of international commerce, good or bad, North, John Poindexter and Secretary of Defense EuroDisney opened in France, to the dismay of Caspar Weinberger testified before Congress about es the Iran-Contra affair. France and England began v many French intellectuals concerned about the hi spread of American culture in their country. And work on a channel tunnel to connect their two y Arc y

the golden arches moved farther east; McDonald’s countries while the U.S. and Canada took steps to sit opened its first restaurant in Beijing, China. connect their two countries in a different fashion — Not to be outdone, Roswell, N.M., opened the an economic one — by signing a free-trade agree- International UFO Museum. It was the year a man ment. Not all Canadians were happy with that deci- from a place called Hope became President of the sion. United States, and the term “surfing the net” entered It was the year in which women outnumbered Univer o courtesy our vocabulary. In Nebraska, the jobless rate sat at men in the U.S.: 43 of 50 states reported a majority Phot 2.5 percent while at the same time, Money magazine of women. On campus that year, the renovation of ▲ ARCHITECTURE ranked the state 37th nationally in taxing its citi- Architecture Hall was completed, plans for an Hall was renovated zens. expanded recreation center were approved and con- The UNL mens gymnastics team won the struction began on the Lied Center. national title. There was an explosion and fire in IBM launched its OS/2 operating system, and Hamilton Hall and a flood in Walter Scott, creating the UNL Office of Registration and Records began an opportunity to try some of the 26 new code blue using a new database to keep track of grade changes. emergency phones that were being installed across Though the U.S. government’s budget topped a tril- campus that year. lion dollars for the first time in history, American The Grammy-winning album of the year was farmers continued to be so hard-hit economically Eric Clapton’s Unplugged, while the city union crew that hundreds of them joined with Willy Nelson and had some unplugging of their own to do, spending an all-star line-up at Farm Aid III at Memorial close to $5,000 to clear Broyhill Fountain of suds Stadium on the University of Nebraska campus to from the soap some pranksters had dumped in it.■ raise money. ■

12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 69 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1982 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO THE STATE OF NEBRASKA was reeling from a $30 million shortfall while, halfway around the world, violence reignited between the PLO and Israel, leading to an Arab- Israeli conflict. As a reminder of a different conflict, the haunting Vietnam War Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. And Argentina invaded the Photo courtesy University Archives and Special Collections Falkland Islands, causing Britain to move in to protect its territory. 1977 Things probably looked more tranquil from 1977 CONTAINED ANOTHER OF THOSE “WHERE space, where the first space shuttle, Columbia, com- were you when” moments; nearly everyone old pleted its maiden voyage, while another spacecraft enough to have memories of that year can probably took off from Earth, stranding an extra-terrestrial tell you where they were when they heard that news critter in Steven Spielberg’s hit movie E.T. Other hit that Elvis Aaron Presley had died. Charlie Chaplin movies that year included Tootsie, Poltergeist and died that year, too. And it was the year the Nobel Gandhi. Peace Prize was awarded to Betty Williams and E.T. would have more choices on how to phone Mairead Corigan from Belfast for their grassroots home as of that year, since AT&T was split up into Ulster Peace Movement. several regional phone companies. It was also the Black South African leader Steven Biko was year the compact disk was invented and the year of dying in prison, which would lead to renewed oppo- the first successful heart transplant. Enrollment at sition to apartheid, and The Gang of Four was the University of Nebraska–Lincoln topped 25,000 expelled from China. Woody Allen’s Annie Hall won for the first time that year, the same year the the Best Picture Oscar, while Steven Spielberg University Police Department moved to new offices thought he had the best movie dealing with space in at 135 North 16th. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Unfortunately Nebraskans were warned to be on the lookout for Spielberg, George Lucas released a low-budget, for tainted Tylenol … while UNL employees had minor little picture that same year called Star Wars. access to a new long-term disability insurance plan, Timing is everything. though there was no connection between those two It certainly worked for Ronald Roskens. He items. For the first time, women were considered for became the new president of the University of firefighter positions in the Lincoln Fire Department. Nebraska that year. Tuition shot up to a breathtak- Alice Walker’s The Color Purple was a hit in the ing $21 a credit hour, and the new East Campus bookstores, while on the small screen the “place Union building opened. New state law that year where everybody knows your name” was beginning required time-and-a-half pay for more than 40 its 11-year run. ’77■ hours of work a week. ■

▲ THE NEW east campus ’82 union building opened

▲ THE UNIVERSITY police department moved to new offices at 135 North 16th 70 SUMMER 2008 ALUMNI NEWS 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962

▲ RON ROSKENS became the new president of the University of Nebraska in 1977

1972 SEVERE DROUGHT LED TO GRAIN SHORTAGES IN 1967 the Soviet Union in 1972, and American crops, IT WAS THE SUMMER OF LOVE, THE ZENITH OF THE including some from Nebraska, found their way hippie movement and the social revolution among overseas to be of help. Some of that grain could have the younger generation. The musical Hair with its been shipped via Federal Express, which was found- much talked-about nude scene opened in New York, ed in the U.S. that same year. and Mohammed Ali refused to be drafted into the NASA was making a delivery of a different kind Army. The Beatles released Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely that year, launching the unmanned Pioneer 10 mis- Hearts Club Band, which ushered in a new era of sion to Jupiter. Meanwhile, Britain, the U.S., and the studio production for albums but spelled an end to USSR signed a treaty halting the stockpiling of bio- their live tours. logical weapons. It was the worst single year of fight- The U.S. Supreme Court had its first black ing in the Northern Ireland conflict; 467 people judge. On the medical front, it was a good year for were killed over the course of the year. hearts. Coronary bypass surgery was developed, and On the big screen, Francis Ford Coppola made the first heart transplant was performed. It was the moviegoers an offer they couldn’t refuse, and they year of the Six Day War between the Arab nations flocked to see his movie The Godfather, which would and Israel, and the year the oil tanker Torey Canyon go on to win the Oscar that year. On the smaller ran aground off the coast of England. screen, M*A*S*H began its 11-year run on CBS. It was a centennial year here in Nebraska, and And for the first time, viewers could save those residents everywhere celebrated our 100th year of M*A*S*H moments to watch over and over; the statehood. On campus, students enjoyed Direct home video recorder was introduced that year. Inward Dialing for the first time, the campus On the UNL campus, employees benefited received its first license to use radioactive material from expanded sick leave to cover pregnancy and a convocation by the Under Secretary of the absences. It was also the year the UNL Culture United Nations was cause for classes to be dis- Center was established. And off-campus students missed. without transportation benefited from a new state A poll of the state’s high school students indi- law that allowed hitchhiking. Richard Leakey and cated 65 percent were heading to college after grad- Glynn Isaac discovered a human skull in northern uation, which meant a certain amount of job secu- Kenya believed to be more than 2.5 million years rity for those new employees at the University of old. ■ Nebraska that year. ■

’72 ▲ JOAN BAEZ performed at the Student Union ’67

▲ JOHN NEIHARDT received the Nebraska Builders Award in 1972 and an honorary degree in 1917 from the University of Nebraska 12 SUMMER 2005 J ALUMNI NEWS 71 ahn yn H il o by Mar Phot The 2008 Bright Lights summer adventure camp was held in the third floor studio of Andersen Hall June 23-27. From left: Hannah Lehnert, Lauren Tobias, Beatriz Loureiro and Ben Cuca practice for a television newscast. Parents were invited to watch the live newscast on the last afternoon of summer camp. Bright Lights teachers videotaped the newscast for students and their families.

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